No Other Gods

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."

Ex 20:1-3

Our greatest challenge is not what we do or how we do it. Our greatest challenge is to keep God first in our life.

We have to keep Him first in our priorities, duty, pleasure, relationships, time, and so on. We have to make sure NOTHING comes before Him. Hard work is never enough. Our relationship with Him is to be the most important thing in our lives. That's why he gave this commandment first.

"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love."

(Rev 2:4 )

If we try and make our priorities like the people in Ephesus, we will be doctrinally sound and we will be able to endure suffering. BUT, we will lose our light and our witness.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

(Prov 3 :5-6)

We don't learn to trust the Lord by studying about Him. We do it by knowing Him through a relationship with Him.

He will direct our paths then. He will be committed to removing the obstacles and problems that are keeping His destiny for us...but only if we don't lean on our own understanding.

When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.
(Prov 4:12 )

The way of the world is very deceptive. We can follow it faithfully, thinking all is well, and before we know it, we are lost!

"Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit."
(Mat 15:14 )

The first commandment will keep us from harm if we follow it. It will keep us on the path He has for us, and we will not get lost.

"Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?' "
(Ezek 33:11 )

God is our loving Parent, and He will be stern in His words of warning to us - just as we are when children are heading into danger. "STOP!" is what we need to hear!

He wants to take care of us.

He know no person nor thing can bless us nor love us as much as He does. Even when we fail miserably, He loves us and is faithful.

"I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.
The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.
Then I called on the name of the LORD: "O LORD, save me!"
The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.
Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.
For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
I believed; therefore I said, "I am greatly afflicted."
And in my dismay I said, "All men are liars."
How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
O LORD, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant ; you have freed me from my chains.
I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD.
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,
in the courts of the house of the LORD-- in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD."

Psalm 116

How can we not make Him first, knowing His love for us?

There are many benefits for being obedient to this commandment!

1. It changes the destructive worry and anxiety patterns in our minds. Confidence replaces fear and worry.

My life becomes His responsibility, and not mine. (Bill Gothard has defined worry as " accepting responsibility for something that God never intended for you to have." How true!)

When I begin to worry, then I know I have snatched back my life from Him. Matt 6:25-34 tells us not to worry about anything.

1 Pet 5:7 says "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

2. It will have an impact on people around me. Of course others will notice.

1 Pet 3:15 cautions us : " But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,"

God wants us in no other love relationships like we have with Him (or could have!). He wants this relationship between us to last through the generations, and for us to inherit His kingdom. Punishment comes if we disobey. Why would we choose the punishment over a love relationship with Him??

Following are several passages for you to look up and decide for yourself. I encourage you to look them all up, and write down what they mean in your life.

Exodus 23: 32-33; Leviticus 26:1; Deut 4:15-28; Deut 7:2-5; 1 Kings 18:29-37

A love relationship with Him is total commitment and involvement of my will, emotions, intellect, and strength to God.

Study these passages and apply them to yourself :

Deut 6:5; Josh 22:5; Josh 23:11-13; Psalm 18, Psalm 116; Hosea 10:2; Matt 22:37; John 15:13; 1 Cor 16:13-24

This relationship with Him will lead to praise and worship of Him.

Please take the time to look these up and reflect on the:

2 Sam 22:50; 1 Kings 8:23; 1 Chron 15:28; 1 Chron 29:10-19; John 13: 31-32

Also, I'd like to invite you to visit PowerPraise home page.

Thanks for dropping in! God bless you!