Convicted!

photo by MoBikeFed

This morning God brought to my attention an idol in my life--sports.

I love sports, always have. I can be obsessed with it. Last night, I signed off Facebook by updating "what are you doing now" with a farewell, "Daron is going to bed." But I wanted to check the USC-OSU score. Then four other baseball games were tied going into the late innings with playoff implications.

As a sports-junkie, I waited for the games to finish.

Then this morning I awoke. The first thing I mentioned was for my son to get up and to watch Sportscenter with me. Then later in my morning routine, God pricked my conscience. "Do I get as excited about the things of God, as I do when an upset occurs or when games are decided in walk-off drama?"

I stood convicted.

So, as I drove my son to school I confessed that I need to match, even surpass the excitement of witnessing sports [excitement]. I need to be more excited about the things of God than things of earth.

You may resonant with me struggle. Or you may not share the same idol that I worship. But you do have something or someone that stands before God.

In Colossians 1:17-18 the Apostle Paul is writing to Christ-followers in the church at Colossae who are struggline with idols in their culture and community. He challenges them to focus on Christ. "He (Christ) is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning , the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to haev first place in everything."

I like how the King James says it, "in all things he might have the preeminence." another way to state it is, "in everything He might have the supremacy (NIV)."

No matter how you [state] it, the main point is that Jesus must be the number one priority in your life. You may have an idol that needs removed. Confess it. Ask God for strength and resolve to put Him before all things. He deserves first place in your life.

I am going to work on this in my walk with God. I trust you will join me. I want to be a fully-devoted follower of Christ. Yes, I want to take baby steps, the next step. I praise God that I can engage God and grow. He doesn't belittle me. I may belittle myself. But God provides forgiveness, comfort, encouragement, and discipline when patterns of sin remain. You can trust God to help you. Put Christ on the top of your podium in your life each day.