Friends, here’s a question worth pausing over: What has slowly claimed the throne in your heart that only God should occupy? Scripture names those things idols. They’re rarely carved images. More often they’re the applause we chase, the career ladder we can’t stop climbing, a relationship we hold too tightly, or the comfort and control we refuse to surrender. Whatever we trust more than we trust Jesus has become an idol.

The Lord doesn’t confront these rivals out of anger. He is a loving Father who refuses to let us settle for lesser things that will never fill us. John closes his first letter with a simple plea: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21). It’s both tender and firm. The moment we restore God to first place, everything else shifts into its rightful role—serving under His rule instead of ruling us.

So right now, take a quiet breath with the Lord. Invite Him to reveal anything that has grown too large in your life. Then, by His grace, release it. He will not leave that space empty. He fills it with Himself, and nothing else comes close.

If you’re longing for a church family that helps each other keep Christ at the center, I warmly invite you to the Rutgers Oasis Church relaunch on September 13, 2026. We’re coming together as a welcoming, family-friendly community—children, singles, college students, and all who are hungry for more of Jesus—to worship, grow, and walk this journey side by side. Come be part of it. There’s a place for you here.

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Mercy, Not Merit: Lessons from the Pharisee & Tax Collector Luke 18:9-14 | David Butler | Rutgers Oasis Church

Two men went to the temple to pray. One trusted in his own goodness. The other cried out for mercy. Only one walked away justified.

In this episode, Pastor David Butler unpacks Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector—and why true righteousness is never earned by performance, comparison, or religious achievement. Discover the freedom of coming to God empty-handed, honest about your need, and confident in His mercy alone.

A powerful reminder for every heart that still tries to justify itself.

The post Mercy, Not Merit: Lessons from the Pharisee & Tax Collector Luke 18:9-14 | David Butler appeared first on NJ Non-Denominational Church | Rutgers ROC!.