Series: The Ten Commandments – The 1st Commandment
Series: The Ten Commandments – The 1st Commandment
Exodus 19: 1-25, 20:1-6, Deuteronomy 5:6-10.
Memory Verse: You shall have no other gods before me Exodus 20:3.
When God delivered Israel from Egypt, the Israelite traveled into the wilderness to the mountain where God had appeared to Moses in Mt. Sinai. Through Moses, God told Israel that they were His special people. God entered a serious agreement (a covenant) with the people of Israel; God promised to give them the land He promised to Abraham, to love them, and to be with them always. In return, the people promised to follow and obey God only. Then God gave them the 10 commandments which showed them how to live together as God’s people. God gave the 10 commandments because He loved Israel and wanted them to show other people in the world that He is the one true God. Today we can rely on the Holy Spirit to help us follow God’s commands.
Commandment 1; Thou shall have no other gods before me Exodus 20:3
In this commandment, God is telling the Israelite to have no other gods before Him. This means that we should not put anything above God; He should be the centre of our lives because He is more important than anyone or anything. What we mean when we say “other gods” is anything or anyone that we love, trust and hold more important than God. This could be your parents, friends, job, television, games, mobile phones etc. The first commandment means don’t spend more time on anything than God. God is more important than television, and playing games. This commandment does not apply only to the children of Israel but to you and I as well.
Prayer: God help me to love you above every other thing.
Author: Sis Chiamaka Ebenezer
