|
 Way back in the day, the Israelites struggled with fidelity. There
is a reason that the entire book of Hosea compares them to an
adulterous prostitute; when it came to gods, they had a wandering
eye. When Moses offered this first of the ten commandments he did so
with the knowledge that the people would always be looking for a
better deal. They would think they had found it on occasion with
ancient gods like Ba’al et al., but they always came back. The story
of the Old Testament is largely a story of the Jewish people
straying from and returning to God. This commandment is the
strongest reminder that they should never wander too far.
Today we do not have this problem. Today most Christians don’t
worship other deities, they largely stick with the Christian God
when it comes to prayer and service. Our idolatry manifests itself
in the way we practice our faith. It is a bit of a cliché at this
point to say that things like money and sports and entertainment and
patriotism have become our idols, but such is the case. When
idolatry in our day is taken in its larger context, then, we see
that idolatry is largely an issue of priorities. Where is God in our
lives? Is God at the top of the food chain? Is Jesus the king of the
hill? Is the Holy Spirit the head honcho? Most often the answers to
these questions is simple…no. Our failure in this day and age is not
worshipping other gods it is prioritizing other things above and
beyond God.
 |
When Moses laid out this commandment he began by reminding the
people that it was God who had set them free from the bonds of
slavery in Egypt. They should remember what God had done for them.
Thus as we think about our fidelity to God we should begin by
remembering God’s fidelity to us. Even when we stray, even when we
forget, God does not stray and God does not forget. God is faithful
to you! God loves you when you choose another path. God loves you
when you sleep through worship. God loves you when you fail to love
your neighbor. This is the Lord your God, who died and was raised
again for you to bring you out of slavery to sin. This God has set
you free. During this Lenten season we should remember that God
deserves nothing less than our lives. Idolatry tells us this is a
lie, that there are more important things than God. But in our
hearts we know the truth, that in the end our lives and this world
are all about God.
Prayer: Holy God, help me on this day to focus on you.
Help me to follow you and serve you with my whole life. I pray in
Jesus’ name. Amen.
[Text from file received by Phil Blackburn]
 |
