| “Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them,” – Deuteronomy 11:16 |
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| Guard your HEART! “TAKE HEED” is a warning used in the Bible 50 plus times with Jesus using TAKE HEED fifteen (15) times. Several times the emphasis of the warning is to NOT BE DECEIVED, especially being deceived into who or what should really be worshipped. Instead of trusting the One and only true God, we find ourselves deceived into placing trust in false gods. These false gods are usually tangible and for a time seem to be able to meet our immediate needs. We make idols/false gods of money or pleasure or fame or people or even of ourselves. We turn from the true to the false. Being deceived we pour energy into serving these false gods. Being deceived we will soon experience great disappointment for they never satisfy the true longing of our hearts! Regarding experiencing great disappointment, the Psalmist’s words come to mind from Psalm 115. Starting in verse 4, “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. 5 They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; 6 They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; 7 They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat. 8 Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.” The idol looks SO REAL, but it is completely DEAD! What a sad state of affairs for one who makes his own idols. Pause for just a second and compare Deuteronomy 6:4-5 with what you just read, Deut. 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5 “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” With our God, we have a RELATIONSHIP! We have a living, loving relationship. He loves us! We love Him! And yes, we love Him because He first loved us. Friend, please heed Deuteronomy 11:16 and “Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them,” Hear the truth of Scripture that those false idols, false gods DO NOT LOVE YOU and CANNOT LOVE YOU! Honest assessment: Are you worshipping the living God or dead idols? Are you worshipping the God who created and redeemed you or are you worshipping a god you have created that can do nothing for you? Verse to DATE the Word on November 16 (11/16) is Deuteronomy 11:16. It says, “Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them,” Love and serve God who loves you! Continue Strong guarding your heart! And remember to DATE THE WORD |