Yes indeed, the idols we have in our lives today are many. We may not serve an actual graven image, but the result of our actions is the same; we love many things more than our God. Thanks for this bro Tim.
It does not sound encouraging, comforting, or motivational. Does it? Some elders of Israel in the captivity of Babylon came to Ezekiel the prophet seeking God’s counsel. They had not sought it before. Now they show some interest.
God is not our spare tire.
Hear the word of the LORD…
“And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me. Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying, Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of Me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.”
“For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the…
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Truth in Palmyra 
September 5, 2018 at 18:03
Not sure how I feel about this. I know I might be taking this too literally, but making categorical statements that God will never hear until we (what, exactly? it isn’t even made clear) ignores a lot of Scripture where God is more merciful than we think he should have been. The book of Judges, for instance, or Jesus’ habits with the lame man or the woman with the issue of blood. Or the story of the Prodigal Son. It just doesn’t seem to fit.
At the very least I’d say, there’s no reason to put one before the other, or to forbid one until the other is accomplished. Believe on him, get your life together, AND call on God when you need help or direction.
If it ain’t scandalous, it ain’t grace.
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September 5, 2018 at 18:41
Hmm. You might be on to something there. Further study may be warranted. I read it in the sense that before we believe the only request of ours God honors is our plea for salvation. I do think that is true. The prayer of a lost person for anything besides forgiveness and salvation is a waste of words.
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September 6, 2018 at 09:50
Maybe. There’s the stories in Acts of the seven sons of Sceva and the sorcerer, for sure. But there’s also the prayers of the Canaanite woman, a heathen outside Jesus’ mission. So it’s hard to say.
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September 6, 2018 at 12:17
Now, that part I agree on; sometimes is is hard to tell.
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September 5, 2018 at 20:47
Idolatry is a big deal with God – and not so much with us – here’s the note I left at the original blog – thought I’d share it here too –
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Good word! I love the definition I heard from Kris Valeton for an idol. An idol is anything you have to check with before you obey God. That’s pretty convicting.
If it wasn’t a New Covenant issue John the beloved would never have ended his letter with this exhortation: Little children, guard yourselves from idols. – 1 John 5:21
Thanks Tim (and Wally)
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September 5, 2018 at 20:51
I just read it over there, Ben. That’s a good point, I had not really considered that last bit of that book.
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