“You must worship no other gods, for the LORD, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.”

Exodus 34:14 (NLT)

In worshiping the golden calf, the children of Israel demonstrated a serious weakness. They were prone to idolatry, which God viewed as spiritual adultery. They had left idolatrous Egypt and were heading toward idolatrous Canaan where there would be a hotbed of temptations. It was evident that they were not ready for the challenges that lie ahead.

Therefore, God renewed the covenant with His people. He reminded them that when they arrived in Canaan they must break the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images. They must not make a covenant with the Canaanites or intermarry with them. If they did, then it would destroy them.

God told them to take heed to themselves. People tend to overestimate their own strength and spirituality. They see the faults in others but are blind to their own. If we would keep from self-deception, then we must take heed to ourselves.

I believe this is especially important as we prepare our children and youth for this world. It is like sending them into the land of idolatrous Canaan! How can we keep them from making unholy alliances that will compromise or even shipwreck their faith? We must impress upon them that they are God’s covenant people. They have been brought into a holy covenant with God through the blood of Jesus Christ. We are not free to indulge the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life.

Instead, we should follow Peter’s instruction:

“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”

1 Peter 1:14–16 (NIV)

Holy people are whole people. They are not living for the corrupting pleasures of this world. Rather, they are living wholly for Jesus Christ. May God help us to be such whole and holy people. And if we have drifted away, then let us renew our covenant today!

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Photo by Emma Bauso