Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 5,6,7; Mark 11:1-17
“Thou shall have none other gods before me. Thou shall not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: Thou shall not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them……….”
– Deuteronomy 5:7-9a (KJV).
From our scriptural study and in the above verse of scriptures we can pick the three major aspects of idolatry properly stated in four key words namely; HAVE, MAKE, BOW AND SERVE. In the first verse of todays’ inspirational scriptures above the first sentence is “thou shall have none other gods beside me.” The word ‘have’ connotes possession. Any possession and position that consumes our time, attracts our attention and value more than we give to God has become a god unto us. This is what we are admonished not to have. Some of these earthly possessions and pursuits have taken the position of gods in the life of men. Possessions such as gold, diamond, money (wealth), power and authority. Men literally worship these possessions and position more than they do God. When a man is ready to eliminate his fellowman because of money and power, but cannot preach the word of God to save a sinner from the devils’ grip, such person has taken his possession and position in value above God. “And the cares of this world, and deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful” Mark 4:19(KJV).
In one of the scriptural verse of today’s reading it said, “Thou shall not make thee any graven image, or any likeness….” To make is to physically create ones thought and imagination. Making a graven image therefore is to produce from a corrupted thought and imagination a physical object that will definitely produce a corrupt worship. These physical graven images when created becomes an object of worship and that is where bowing and serving comes in. The forces of evil or satan who yearns for human worship possesses such object and begin to demand worship and service. This leads us to last aspect of our narration ‘Bow and Serve’. Though bow is a physical gesture it is a physical manifestation of a man’s will. You can only bow to what has control over you. You serve someone higher than you. At this point the effect of having other gods in terms of earthly possession and position has now blossom to make, bow and serve.
My dear readers, it is only in Christ you find moderation. This is because when you accept Christ into your life you automatically open the door for the Holy Spirit, the master of moderation to come into your life. It is at this point you begin to be a recipient of His supply. “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” When Christ comes in, the Holy Spirit opens you to joy unspeakable by which you draw the waters of life from the great well of salvation which Jesus Christ offers us ( See 1 Peter 1:8: Isaiah 12:3).
Prayer: O God, my father, let me be a recipient of the moderation of the Holy Spirit.
Brother Joel Ezeugo