THE NUMBER ONE RULE
Kimberly Lawrence
Today's Scripture: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ.” Ephesians 1:7-9, ESV
Theme: Because of His great sacrifice, God is worthy of worship that we should not give to anything or anyone else.
“NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME”
Many of the world religions practice polytheism, the belief in multiple gods. In Greek mythology, it was believed that Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece, was the home of these gods. I often think of these mystical legends or “gods” when I consider the very first of the ten commandments, “You should have no other gods before me.” I think of the Baals, and the high places for which God punished the Israelites for worshiping in the Old Testament. Have I been obedient if I simply avoid worshiping these other “gods” or higher powers? That seems easy! But...not so fast.
We need to look deeper. God handed down the commandments to Moses and asked His people to put Him first. And, after all, the Bible does say God is a jealous God. Exodus 20:4-5 (NIV) warns us not to “Make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them: for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God”.
Jealousy is born when we are envious because someone has something we do not have. In the case of the first Commandment, God’s jealousy is different. We sin when we give to another something that rightfully belongs to Him, such as worship and service. Let’s consider where there may be evidence of that in our daily lives to make this more relatable.
DO I DO THAT?
When I prioritize sleeping in on Sunday and missing communal worship, I have put something before God. If I overlook my tithe and stockpile my treasure here on earth, I’ve placed “my wealth” ahead of God. When it’s out of my comfort zone, or I’m simply too busy to engage with other believers in a Life Group, I’ve failed to put God first. If I spend hours a day on Facebook and Instagram but can’t seem to fit in some quiet time to read my Bible and talk to God, I have not put Him first. It’s suddenly easy to see false “idols” when we expand the definition to mean anything in our lives that we’ve put before God.
Have you ever poured all of yourself into someone or something? Have you sacrificed your own comfort, convenience, or finances and not received the appreciation you expected? I feel like I just described a day in the life of motherhood! Do children even know what parents sacrifice to make their little lives easier? Now consider this: How great a love must God have had for us to give up His one and only Son as a sacrifice for us? We dilute the magnitude of His sacrifice when we put other things ahead of Him and behave as if it wasn’t enough. We have disrespected this selfless gift!
Make It Personal: Let’s inventory our lives today and identify our false idols. Are we the thankless, entitled children who move through life with little appreciation for the great sacrifice of our living God? What do we put ahead of our worship? He is certainly worthy of our praise, priority, and gratitude.
Pray: God, forgive me for the times I put anything ahead of You, especially myself and my wants. Reveal the areas of my life where I’ve created false idols so that, with the conviction of the Holy Spirit, I may put You first. You are deserving of my worship, and I want to surrender all I have to You. Amen
Read: Proverbs 3:5-8; Psalm 27:4; Colossians 3:17; Exodus 20:4-6
Weekly Memory Verse: I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1, ESV