‘You shall have no other gods before me…’ (Exodus 20:3)
Today we begin a series of short reflections looking at the Ten Commandments, beginning with the first.
In a time and culture when people worshipped many different gods and idols the first makes it clear to the people that the Lord is the One and only true living God and the people are to have no other Gods but the Lord. Compared with the civilised Roman and Greek culture and the more barbaric cultures of the time, this was quite unique – but it sets the Lord apart as the only One who is worthy of worship and praise.
Today we perhaps don’t have the same idols and gods as the people back then did to compete for our devotion and worship, however, we do have our own more modern ‘gods’. Money, material goods and possessions, status, power, influence – the list goes on and on, and what we have to ask ourselves is this. How often do we put our love or desire for these things above the Lord, how often do these ‘gods’ detract us from our devotion to and worship of the Lord? Is it perhaps more often that we dare to admit to? If so, now is the time to put the Lord first in our lives once again.
Lord, help us to come to You in praise and devotion as we should, acknowledging You as Lord of our life and embracing Your Son as our Saviour. And we ask all this in His name. Amen.
Question Of The Day: Who was the first Disciple chosen by Jesus?