Six Reasons to Have No Other Gods

On October 9, 2014March 21, 2015 By BrianIn Idolatry, Ten Commandments

In the First Commandment (Exodus 20:3), God commands us to have no other gods before Him. Why? Here are six reasons not to have other gods:

First, God spoke this command (v1). God Himself commands it – and that should really be enough for us.

Second, God is our God (v2). He has entered into a relationship with us, and we are his people. We ought to show the same allegiance to God that he shows to us.

Third, God saved us (v3). As God saved Israel from slavery to Egypt, so God has saved us from slavery to sin. And we ought to respond with grateful allegiance.

Fourth, God is our Creator (Genesis 1-2). As such we owe our very existence to Him. And so he should be first in our lives.

Fifth, God is the only true God (Psalm 86:10). How foolish for us to exchange fake gods for the one true God. What a horrible slight to God to follow fake gods.

Sixth, God is greater than all the fake gods. He showed Himself greater than the Egyptian gods through the ten plagues. He showed Himself greater than Baal on the mountain in the contest between Elijah and Baal’s prophets. As the one true God he is greater than all fake gods. He can truly help us. He can truly satisfy us. He is greater.

Can you think of other reasons to have no other gods?

Not Enough?

On October 7, 2014 By BrianIn Idolatry, Ten Commandments

Anything that comes between God and us that compromises our walk with him is a god to us. We are saying, “You’re not really enough for this situation, Lord. You are not providing for me or protecting me or fulfilling me in the ways that I need, so I am bringing this other god into my life to close the gap between your inadequacy and my needs.”

– Jani Ortlund in His Loving Law, Our Lasting Legacy

Ouch!

What We Are Supposed To Look Like

On October 3, 2014March 26, 2016 By BrianIn 10C Quotes

The Law [Ten Commandments] is not revealed to God’s people as the means by which they should earn their redemption. Rather, the Law is revealed to show them how they can be conformed to the image of their loving, covenant Lord…. Christ perfectly fulfilled the obligations of the Law. If we are to reflect the image of Christ, the Law will assist us by showing us what we are supposed to look like.

– J. V. Fesko in The Rule of Love

Responding to God’s Words

On October 2, 2014March 26, 2016 By BrianIn 10C Quotes

In Sunday School, my church has started a study on the Ten Commandments. As a result, you will be seeing lots of quotes and thoughts on the Ten Commandments during the next several weeks. This past Sunday was an introduction.

Jani Ortlund has a wonderful book on how to pass on the Ten Commandments to our children. In it, she suggests three things we should do with the Ten Commandments:

The first thing we should do is listen to his words… Listening is communing with God. It is seeing reality from his perspective…

The second thing we should do is love his words… Open, eager cherishing of God’s words leads us into deeper intimacy with him. Loving his words is experiencing life in his presence…

The third thing we should do is leave his words. His words are for listening, for loving, and also for leaving a legacy to the children in our lives… Intentional, insightful teaching of God’s words brings our families into a sacred accountability with God. It is passing on a way of life that will last forever.

So how are we doing in our response to God’s words? Are we listening? Do we love them? Are we passing them on to the next generation?

What Love Looks Like

On September 30, 2014March 26, 2016 By BrianIn 10C Quotes1 Comment

The Ten Commandments spell out what love for God and our neighbors looks like. The content of our love for God and neighbor is not for us to decide. We are too sinful, too selfish, and too foolish to make our own decisions about these matters.