July 30 - 1 John 5:18-21 Keep yourself from idols

Markus* came to college from an animist background. He was the firstborn son and was dedicated to the household idol at birth so that he would inherit the family covenant with the spirits. This meant special treatment. He only ate and drank that which had been offered to the idol using dedicated utensils kept in the shrine. When he went to wash in the river, he heard the spirits that resided there. When Markus became a teenager, however, he rebelled against his parents and decided to become a Christian. He went to the nearest church and listened with interest. However, he did not break his dedication to the idol. Later, he went to another church. There they taught him that he could be set free through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. Markus believed and was baptised with great joy, but still, he did not break with the idol. When Markus left home for his first job, he lost his joy in the Lord. For several years he was greatly troubled until a Christian friend told him that he must break his covenant with the idol. He went home and destroyed the special utensils kept for him in the shrine and through prayer and faith in Christ broke the covenant. After that, Markus was again filled with joy and heard the call of the Lord to serve him as a minister of the gospel.