Calves Are Not Lambs – Pastor Erton Köhler

We live in an age that claims to be postmodern and post-truth, but the echoes of ancient temptations are louder than ever. Humanity has changed its technology and its pace, but the heart still bends toward idols. Today's idols don't sit in pagan temples. They glow in our hands, whisper in our desires, and capture our time and loyalty. When Israel built the golden calf, they didn't intend to reject God. They simply wanted something they could see, touch, and control. Idolatry often begins not in rebellion but in impatience. But in Scripture, the Lamb tells a different story. When John saw Jesus, he cried, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). If the calf demands what we can give, the Lamb gives what we could never earn. The calf enslaves, but the Lamb saves. Across the continents, the Adventist Church continues to choose the Lamb over the calf. In Chile, Adventists opened a nationwide network of emotional support centers for young adults facing depression and anxiety. In Moldova and Romania, congregations provided shelter and food to thousands of refugees. In India, Adventists launched a literacy and nutrition program for street-connected children, offering daily meals and tutoring to over 300 boys and girls. Idolatry begins with affection. What you look at longest becomes what you love most. Guard the altar of your heart. Ask yourself often: "What am I worshipping with my time, my energy, and my words?" When the answer is Christ, identity becomes clarity. Choose the Lamb. Choose His mission. Choose His identity. About the series From the Heart is a weekly devotional series in which Pastor Köhler reflects on what it means to be grounded in the Bible and focused on the mission, collectively and individually. Each episode is grounded in the four pillars of the Seventh-day Adventist Church strategic plan: Communion with God, Identity in Christ, Unity through the Holy Spirit, and Mission for All. The series connects biblical faith to everyday life, sharing short reflections and glimpses of how God is at work through the Adventist Church around the world. – The Seventh-day Adventist Church has been an established denomination since 1863. It is a global Christian family with over 23 million members who hold the Bible as the ultimate authority. We are believers committed to helping people understand the Bible to find freedom, healing, and hope in Jesus. Want to learn more about the Seventh-day Adventist Church? Visit our website at: https://www.adventist.org/ Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaHTvCOWaJE