Friday, June 16, 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)

The first commandment ought to be unnecessary. After all, who would want any other god? In light of who the LORD is, why would you worship anyone or anything else? He is the LORD your God, who brought you out of slavery. He’s the God who is big enough to hang the stars in the sky. He’s the God who loves the world so much that he gave his one and only Son.

If you went to your favorite restaurant, no one would have to tell you to avoid eating the placemats. You wouldn’t even be tempted to do that – the food is so good, why would you mess around with eating something so unpleasant? Likewise, anyone who has ever encountered the LORD shouldn’t have to be told not to worship anyone or anything else – all else pales in comparison to him. He deserves our undivided allegiance.

Live the Word

On this day, what would you identify as the most impressive thing about God? Spend a moment praising him for that aspect of who he is, and ask him to help you to be so amazed with him that you won’t be tempted to put something less than him in his place.