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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: India (02/12/09)
When a person from India accepts Christ as their Savior, numerous reactions are possible. If they were a practicing Hindu, their world is filled with myriads of gods. Embracing the concept of One True God often can be difficult to fully grasp.

Some new Christians still hang on to their personal gods, adding Jesus as one more in a long list. True conversion occurs when one renounces all gods and makes Jesus Lord of all. Persecution from family and the community often results.

In the Western Christianized culture, the idea of a god for this and that borders on absurd. We hear sermons, read the Bible, and know the 10 commandments – all pointing to One Supreme God. Deut 6:4 rings loud in our hearts: “Hear O Israel, the Lord is God, the Lord is One.”

We might have difficulty explaining the mystery of the Trinity to unbelievers, but we would never consider ourselves worshippers of other gods, as Hindus in India practice.

Think again.

If we allow God to reveal our true heart, we might be surprised to find out idolatry does indeed exist in our lives.

Idolatry is defined as the excessive devotion to or reverence for some person or object. It’s a big part of the Hindu lifestyle.

But American Christians?

Do we have our hearts set on other things, and even people, besides God?

What about money? TV. The Internet. Physical appearances. Food. Career. Success. Shopping. Our children and their issues. And perhaps the biggest one that no one talks about – self.

All in the name of “interests and hobbies”. The list is endless. We soon find out we are on equal par with our Hindu friends.

Let’s get back to the basics. The Big 10 - specifically, numbers 1 and 2.
“You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; You shall not bow down to them nor serve them.” Deut 5:7-9a

In His own words, “Our God is a jealous God.”
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Angela M. Baker-Bridge
02/20/09
Interesting way to use India as an illustration for your devotional. Thank God 3% of India's population are true believers in one God, and His Word. Thanks for sharing.
Laury Hubrich 
02/20/09
This is so true. If we look into ourselves, we will find idols of one form or another. Good devo.
Jan Ackerson
02/21/09
Thought-provoking devotional, well-written.
Seema Bagai 
02/24/09
A well-written devotional piece. I liked the way you connected India to the U.S.