“But God turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven”
(Acts 7:42a)
Notice the language of Acts 7 – Stephen describes the process of Israel’s apostasy from God. At a certain point, God stopped protecting them from their desires and let them face the full consequences of the evil that lay in their hearts. When God turns away from us, we are automatically delivered up to serve new masters.
The idols of our heart (greed, fear, lust, hatred, bitterness, etc.) become our masters when we refuse to follow Him. There is no such thing as a life without service. Everyone is a servant, and everyone has a master. If we do not serve God, we will end up choosing an idol in His stead, and idols are inferior gods.
Israel served all the host of heaven, there was not an idol they failed to worship under every green tree, and all those gods bought them misery and zero salvation. The false gods of this world will not, cannot, save you. They are horrible taskmasters who take without giving.
Choose your master. There is only one who is merciful and life-giving. His name is Jesus.
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” (Matthew 6:24)
Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites