14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 1 John 5:14-21 (NKJV)

The majority of Biblical Scholars agree that the John who writes this Epistle is the same St. John who wrote the fourth Gospel. This is the nineteenth of a series of Devotions on the First Epistle of John. Previous devotions can be found in the Archives. It is my hope that as we meditate on St. John’s Epistle, where the keynote is Love, that together we can grow in our Love of God.

St. John concludes this First Letter with the words, "Little children, keep yourselves away from idols." Throughout the letter he has stressed the Eternal existence of the Triune God, the never ending and all powerful love of God, and the severe warning to stay away from the antichrist--those who teach to draw people away from God and His Love. The false prophets always said many true things about God and then inserted the false teachings. The hearer would then conclude, this was said and it is true, so this must be also. In this way, people were drawn to accept these false teachings and the idols they were being led to serve.

The same message needs to be heard today, "Keep yourself from idols." The false preacher today might speak about, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and unto God the things that are God’s." The false preacher probably would not define what is God’s and what is Caesar's. Caesar's is anything of a worldly nature that does not contradict the Word of God. Enjoy a good life, we are told. There is nothing wrong with that. It is when television, movies, the internet. books. speakers, pastors, government officials, organizations, and big business people tell us what the Good Life is that we have to make the decision.

We can hear the idol called money or wealth calling us to the Good Life urging us to get as much as we can, as fast as we can, and don’t worry about anyone else. Don’t worry about hard feelings, don’t worry about taking away someone's means of income, don’t worry about anyone except yourself. The old idol--money--might also say that God helps them that help themselves, but he forgets to say, "when they do it God’s way."

The same thing can be said about all the false idols. When a person leaves the Love of God and seeks to follow an idol, so many people are hurt, pushed aside, and trampled as the self serving idol seeker plunges on.

In the midst of all of the noise, all of the turmoil of the idol seekers, there is the quiet voice of the one who Loves God. That person is not only praying for self needs but is also praying for the idol seekers. That person is not pushing others aside and trampling them, that person is the Good Samaritan going to those by the wayside and ministering to them.

Throughout this Letter, St. John has urged you to receive the Love of God and all of the Joy that goes with it. Now, he makes one last appeal," Little children, keep yourselves from idols."

WE PRAY THE WORDS OF A HYMN;

Fear not, little flock, from the cross to the throne,
From death into life He went for His own;
All power in earth, all power above,
Is given to Him for the flock of His love.

Only believe, only believe;
All things are possible, only believe,
Only believe, only believe;
All things are possible, only believe.

"Fear Not Little Flock" from cyberhymnal.org

A SUGGESTION FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION

Prayer is very important here. Many people have no idea that they are serving idols. Pray that the Holy Spirit would open your eyes and your heart that you might identify the idols that you have accepted into your life.