Do you worship other gods?
Of course, you don’t!?
Right!?
I’ll willing to bet you have no idols of Buda to which you bow; no prayers to Allah five times a day; and that you’re not a student of the Hindu Vedas.
However…
I’m also willing to bet you, like me, are prone to seek other gods like “Quick Fix” or the impatient god of “Instant Gratification” – or the ever-present temptation to worship the god of “Mammon” made famous by John Milton in Paradise Lost.
In either case above, the First Commandment applies.
You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 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 parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. – God (Exodus 20.3-6)
What’s really interesting is the universal scope of this commandment. What’s even more interesting is the impact there is on generations to follow when we break this commandment. As it turns out, there is impact on our children’s children children.
But, what’s most interesting is how it highlights the need for Jesus, the Christ and the Holy Spirit He has sent to call us, move us and empower us to worship God – alone!
Having established last week that there is freedom in boundaries, let’s gather in worship to be set free!
See you Sunday,
Pastor Karl