“You shall have no other gods before me.”
Exodus 20:3
The first commandment calls you to a life-long response of gratitude and loving loyalty to the God who loved you and gave Himself for you.
Positively, this means cultivating affection for Him, remembering Him, appreciating Him, honouring Him, choosing Him, loving Him, and fearing Him. It means trusting Him, hoping in Him, and delighting in Him. It means calling upon Him and giving thanks to Him.
Loyalty to God means giving Him more weight in your life and in your decisions than to any other. If you face a decision where every inclination of your heart says “no,” and yet to honour God you would have to say “yes,” then you would say “yes.” Why? Because God carries more weight than every inclination of your heart.
The starting point, negatively, is to identify all sins that break the first commandment by displacing God, and then to turn from them. He is displaced by pride and infatuation. He is displaced when we allow others to bind our conscience, or when we consult the devil, mediums, or fortune tellers. Superstition, impatience with God, and complaining about God’s providence are all attempts to displace Him. So are all forms of unbelief, distrust, and despair.
The first commandment looks easy from a distance, but once you get up close, you will see how difficult it is. You may well find yourself saying to God, “I can’t even keep the first commandment. I am surrounded by other powers that control my life. I need help!”
That’s a great way to come to Jesus. Following the first commandment is a lifelong struggle, but with the help and presence of Jesus you can begin to pursue it.
What are some ways in which this command is a struggle for you?
