Today’s Readings: Deut 7:1‐8:20, Luke 7:36‐8:3, Ps 69:1‐18, Prov 12:1

Deuteronomy 7:2 – “…and when the Lord your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them.”

There are areas in life that God want Christians to “show no mercy” in. In the opening five verses of chapter seven, God makes it clear that his people are to destroy anything that could prompt them to worship something other than him alone. They are not to intermarry with idol worshipers. They are commanded to “break down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and chop down their Asherim and burn their carved images with fire” (v5).

Alter to Baal in Megiddo

The Israelites did not obey. Over the past two weeks, Rebecca and I saw many excavated Israelite cities with pillars, carved images, and even alters to foreign Gods. Eventually God sent them into exile to correct their worship.

Apply: There are many areas in which we allow the world to distort our worship of God alone. We let the idol of the American dream drive parts of our lives. We expose ourselves to idol worship through the media and through the desire to impress others. At times we let idol worship in by prioritizing good things like family and even ministry over God. God demands worship of him alone. Today I want to show “no mercy” to things that have the potential of affecting my worship.

I’ve heard idol worship in a Christian’s life called Jesus and … For example, yes I want to worship God …and I want to have a nice house. What areas of your life need to be shown no mercy to protect your worship of God alone?