Greasy Donuts

1 John 5:21 says, "Dear Children, keep yourselves from idols".

And no, that doesn't mean that if you happen to run into a contestant from American Idol at Starbucks that you should moonwalk out the door in a hurry, thereby keeping your distance.

Keeping yourself from idols means to not let your devotions, pursuits, dreams and desires block you from God. (And be sure to avoid resentments, petty arguments and road rage...all of those will block perfect fellowship with God too.)

We can set up idols (a great way to find out what or who you worship is to scan your thoughts) without even meaning to. Maybe it's the state track championship that you're hoping to win. Perhaps it's getting that perfect SAT score that would get you into a great college and thereby set you for life. Or maybe you have your heart set on Mr. Perfect.

But what happens if things don't work out? What if your track team's bus runs over a greasy box of donuts with a fork stuck in them and gets a flat tire on the way to the meet and your team has to forfeit?

What if the SAT administrator is a frustrated stand-up comedian and he tells bad jokes to you during the test and you blow it?

What if Mr. Perfect turns out to be so into himself that he spends more time spray-tanning, eyebrow waxing and staring at his own reflection than he does with you?

Will your reaction to any of these disappointments be depression, anger, or fear? Have you been spending a huge amount of time thinking, obsessing, or focusing on these things? They may have become an idol to you.

God is not into idols. Why? Imagine that you're trying to have lunch with your best friend. You drive 100 miles in a hatchback with no air conditioning and a bald set of tires to spend time with him or her and all they can talk about while you bite into your chimichanga is how much they hate their math teacher, or how devoted they are to their new pair of jeans, or how depressed they are because their track team never made it the state championship.

You'd feel like your best friend didn't really want to spend time with you, right? Not only that, but you'd both miss out on the fellowship that you could enjoy if nothing were blocking (i.e. Idols) that.

God isn't some crazy despot in the sky who is so insecure that He has to have your attention. Quite the opposite, in fact. He loves you and He doesn't you want to miss it because you're too hung up on something meaningless.

Based on 1 John 5:21, say out loud: "God, keep me from idols."