The Comeback Part 2Sample

I can’t help but think of the story of the Israelites, God’s chosen people, when speaking of a good comeback. Today, we will focus on the beginning of 1 Samuel 7. In this portion of scripture, the Israelites had become arrogant in a battle against their enemy, the Philistines. Pride began to develop in the hearts of the people and they drifted away from God, allowing different religious practices and spiritual complacency to come into their lives. The interesting thing is that the Israelites did not fully turn away from the Lord, but instead added the worship of false gods to their worship of the Lord. The prophet Samuel called them to repent and fully turn their hearts back to God.

The Lord allowed the people of Israel to experience the loss against the Philistines in battle before letting them have victory so they could taste a portion of what life was without Him and with their idols. Just as God proved He was more than enough to sustain the Israelites during this time against the Philistines, God wants to reveal idols in your life to prove that He is far more than enough to sustain you.

So what are your idols? We might not be carving statues and performing rituals, but I believe that some of us are worshipping temporary things in the place of God. We can make an idol of ALL things. Some think, “As long as I have a bit of Jesus in my life and go to the Free once a week, that's okay.” However, the word makes it clear in Exodus 20 that we are not to have any idols in our lives before the Lord. God is calling us to wake up to the reality of our idolatry.

If you listen to social media more than you do King Jesus, social media is your idol.

If you run to a substance for an escape and never to the Lord, that substance is your idol.

(And for the ones who think that this doesn't apply to them because they don't deal with the “big” sins):

If you don't worship the Lord because you don't like the song, preferences are your idol.

If you don't stand up for God’s word because it makes you uncomfortable, comfort is your idol.

So what now? Here’s how to repent from idolatry according to 1 Samuel 7:3

1. Reflect: Ask yourself, what is Lord over my life? Is it Jesus or is it another person or thing?
2. Repent: God forgive me for allowing _____ to come before you or beside you! I turn to you and say you are Lord over my life!
3. Return: Lord, I thank you for being a God of second chances! You are greater than any idol we allow into our lives! Amen!

- Olivia Lomeli