The Culture
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HERE’S THE AUDIO FOR YOU!
Listen, there will come a time when we must decide who we will worship. Is my worship to God or the culture around me?
In 1 King 18:21, Elijah asks the people, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." Elijah was asking this question because God's chosen people were divided in their worship. They knew Jehovah, the God who delivered them repeatedly, but their acts of worship were directed toward Baal. A false god who could not respond to the worship and sacrifice of his prophets. Elijah gave them a front-row seat to see how the god they had chosen to worship did not provide them with anything but silence.
If we were in the crowd the day the Baal prophets were earnestly seeking a response from him, I wonder what our thoughts would have been- "I can't believe Baal is not responding; indeed, he will react in soon; I mean these are his prophets, he has to respond to them." But Baal never responded, and he did not respond because he was not real.
Psalm 135:15-18 says, "the idols of the nations are silver and gold. The work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear; Nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them."
The people of Israel's affection and attention were pulled away from God by the culture around them. The culture seduced them into believing Baal was the god to serve because it was popular, but there was no life in Baal, so they became just like him.
Just because a culture popularizes an agenda or a fad, it does not mean we forgo the commandments and precepts of God to follow them. The culture does not provide us with the answers God has for us. The culture around us will never give us God's peace, the peace He offers to help us get through the trials and tribulations we will face on this earth. The culture will never give us God's supernatural provision that sustains us in times of lack. This culture will never provide abundant life, true life here on earth, and everlasting life with the Father.
So, the next time you are tempted to serve and worship the culture around you because it is popular, think about Psalm 135:15-18........they have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear; Nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them."
The culture gods will never speak to you regarding your Purpose; they will only validate who you are in the culture, not who you are in Christ!
Make a decision today to worship Jehovah, the God of life. We are created in the image of God- He responds to His image, not the image of our culture.