Quote for the Day
“You shall have no other gods before me.”
Today's Prayer
This week review the commands of God and see where you can grow closer to Him. This week pray for those traveling that they might draw closer to God during their absence from family.
Deuteronomy 5:1-11
Deuteronomy 5:1-11 (NIV)The Ten Commandments1 Moses summoned all and said: Hear, O Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them. 2 The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. 3 It was not with our fathers that the LORD made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today. 4 The LORD spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain. 5 (At that time I stood between the LORD and you to declare to you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and did not go up the mountain.) And he said:6 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of , out of the land of slavery.7 “You shall have no other gods before me.8 “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.11 “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”
Message
Well, here it is, the first command, and just as Moses prepared us, it is all about God! Of the Ten Commandments, the first four directly relate to our worship and relationship with God. We have seen and been told that God is a jealous God and that He demands our undivided attention. We can look at these first four commands and feel very confined and trapped by the “rules of the game”, or we can look into the eyes of God and see His ever-caring hand. These commands are not to benefit God; He needs nothing from us. They are to benefit US! We are the beneficiaries when we put God first. When we have no idols before Him, WE benefit in a closer and tighter relationship to Him. When we set aside the Sabbath and worship God, it is our hearts and souls that are filled. God begins the commandments with a focus on Himself so that we can have the pleasure of a strong and powerful relationship with Him. We benefit from obedience to God’s commands.