Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
Thoughts for Today:In our passage today, Paul tells us to flee from any person, relationship, activity, hobby, or thought that gets in the way of our relationship with the Lord. In Christian circles, we see a lot of haphazard "fleeing". That is trying to avoid all connection to anything or anyone that might possibly be construed as sinful or lead to temptation. With the incorrect emphasis, joy is lost and the freedom Christ promised is never experienced. In fact, just the opposite occurs. We become bound by all the things we try to avoid. It's like painting the floor of a room without first planning your exit. If you're not careful, the floor will be painted, and you will end up boxed in a corner. With no option other than to walk across the freshly painted floor. Paul might tell us to flee from sin, but he does not intend for us to do so without an exit strategy.
Psalm 34 was written while David was fleeing for his life. Yet, he said [my summation], "I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth, for I have tasted and seen in the middle of this difficulty that the Lord is good!" We must be careful that while we're fleeing, we do not insulate ourselves from life, difficulty, adversity, problems, or people. That we allow the Lord to show us His goodness and provision all along the way. Paul instructed his protégé Timothy on the subject of fleeing -- but with a purposeful direction (1 Timothy 6:10): "But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." These are the thoughts we should pursue, rather than a blind and fearful fleeing.
Questions to Ponder:Paul tells us to, "flee from idolatry". Yet, in James 4:7, we are told, "resist the Devil and he will flee from you." So are we to flee or resist? As long as we are in this life we will be forced to deal with Satan and his devises. We are simply to resist him and eventually he will leave us alone. Sin is another subject. The Bible tells us idolatry is a sin. Pure and simple. Therefore we are not to fool around with it at all. When we find it we are to run from it -- but to where? Are you holding on to the idols of this age -- fame, fortune, or accomplishment? Where will you flee? Do you know the fullness that can only come from the Lord? Will you flee to Him now?