I am the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
You shall have no other gods before Me or besides Me.
This scripture for today not only shows God’s prohibition against idolatry, but His reasons for that prohibition. It was the Lord God who had the power to bring His people out of bondage in Egypt. He alone cared enough for them to choose them to be His own, and He alone delivered and protected them. For all this, He declares that He alone deserves to be worshipped and reverenced. There should be no other god beside Him. A god is something that is worshipped, idolized, idealized, or followed.
Today, we may not have idols or graven images that we have before or beside our Loving Father. However there are things we may put before God. It could come in the form of relationships, spouses, jobs, ambitions, money, communication media, or even other human beings (like men of God or someone who is providing for us). These are things that take our time, our passion, most of our focus and our heart, and make us relegate God to "when we have time" or "when we have a need".
God, your loving Father, deserves your respect, worship and reverence. He is the one who brought you out of Egypt - a place of bondage and slave mentality. In His eyes and heart, you are no longer a slave, but His child, whom He has chosen. He cared enough for you to send His only begotten son that you may have life, and have it more abundantly. He still cares for you, loves you and protects you. He is the one who has given you freely good things to enjoy. May those things He has blessed you with not become your god. Nothing or noone should come before Him or beside Him.
Prayer: My Loving Father, You have commanded me not to have any god beside You. You alone deserve my worship and reverence. Father, please help me to identify any area of my life that has become a god, any thing or person in my life that comes before You. Help me to let go of such area, if any. May all I do and my life be to give You glory and a representation of my worship and reverence for You. In Jesus Name, Amen.
One-Year Daily Bible Reading Plan - Aug. 18 2010 - Jeremiah 28-33 (OT), Colossians 1 (NT).
Joyful 'Toon For Today
God’s Love and Mine…
