Bible Reading: Exodus 19-22; Matthew 20:1-16
Memory verse: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3 (KJV)
The first law God gave his people the Israelites is not to worship any other god apart from Him. This law is important because the Israelites were coming from a place where almost everything is molded and worshipped as a god. Until Moses came, all they knew about God was what they saw in Egypt.
Just as the Israelites became so used to the deities being worshipped around them, people today are worshipping many gods of their own making without knowing. God is displeased with this and gave a stern warning in Exodus 20:5 (KJV), “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;”
All idol worshippers hate God! That’s how He puts it. Exclusive devotion belongs to the creator of heaven and earth and not anything else. Worshipping and serving God means you acknowledge Him. You may not have an idol like the ones worshipped during the time of the Israelites but that thing that takes your time and attention more than God is more likely becoming an idol if care is not taken.
The key here is let God be at the centre of your mind at all times irrespective of your engagements. That is the only way you can successfully claim you are keeping to His commandment in Exodus 20:3 (KJV), “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
Bro. Worthmore Aghanenu