Paul forbids Christians to participate in Heathen Temple Festivals/Idol Feasts. Flee away from idolatry. Idols and things sacrificed to them are used by demons to draw people away from the One True God.
Idolatry can take many different forms. Trusting anything/anyone for what God alone can do, putting anything/anyone above God, and/or pursuing anything relentlessly instead of God is idolatry. Our idolatry may be money, power, pleasure, position, popularity, career, or even ministries.
Christ wants His followers to give Him their total devotion. We cannot have a part in "both the Lord's table and the table of demons." Eating at the Lord's table and drinking the cup of the Lord means communing with Christ and having unity & fellowship with Him. Eating at the table of demons and drinking the cup of demons means identifying with Satan by participating in and/or promoting pagan (or evil) activities. You cannot follow the desires of both Christ and Satan at the same time. Are you double-minded? Jesus declared, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Matthew 6:24). God is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14) and will not accept a worship/allegiance that is divided with Satan.
Drink decisively. Decide which cup you want. The cup of demons only brings about danger, disaster, and destruction. The cup of the Lord definitely brings life, refreshment, and nourishment. "Everyone who drinks this water (from the well) will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." ~Jesus (John 4:13-14)
Thank you so much for these words of encouragement today!
ReplyDeleteI liked how you compared. Makes me reflect if I've been drinking on both and not be misled.
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