Monday, June 12, 2023

Listen to the Word

And God spoke all these words: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.”    (Exodus 20:1-3)

Envision a couple enjoying a romantic evening at a fancy restaurant. There is candlelight, great food, and nice music. The man rises from his seat, drops to one knee, pulls out a ring, and asks his date, “Will you marry me?” Before she can even get the excited “yes” out of her mouth, he grabs the waitress walking by and says, “And you, too. Will you marry me?” How would that go over? It would obviously be a disaster. The romance and intimacy of the moment was pretty much blown when the guy tried to extend it beyond himself and his date. Marriage is for couples, not small groups. It is supposed to be an exclusive commitment.

So is our commitment to God. The First Commandment is a call to worship God alone – to have no other gods. God wants you to make sure not to let anyone or anything else come between you and him. The God who has rescued you stakes a claim on your loyalty.

Live the Word

Spend a moment writing a prayer of praise to God.