Playing Keep Away!

I was reading 1 John 5 today in my devotional time and couldn’t help but be captured by the last verse. In the New LIving Translation (NLT) it says:

“Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.”

Do you remember playing keep away in elementary school? There would be 1 kid who everyone else was trying to keep the ball away from. We could spend entire recesses just running around the playground trying not to let the 1 kid touch the ball. I remember the creative things we used to do to keep the ball away from him.

This verse tells us that we need to play “Keep Away” from anything that might take God’s place in our hearts.

I love the word “MIGHT”. This is that conditional phrase that eludes to: “If you think there is ANY chance of something taking the place of God in your heart, RUN!”

This requires creativity and discernment on our part. I continue to be amazed at how subtly things can creep in and take the place of God.

A great way to start this week is by pausing for a moment, and reflecting on the question:

“Have I let anything take the place of God in my heart?”

If the answer is “yes” then confess it, ask God to forgive you, rearrange your life to remove it, and get God back to His rightful place of #1 in your heart.

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt