Which God Do You Follow?
| “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.” 1 John 5:21 (NASB) |
| The very first commandment God gave His people when He spoke from Mount Sinai is found in Exodus 20:2-3. It wasn’t buried at the end of the list, and it wasn’t a suggestion. It was a declaration—a line in the sand. “I am the Lord your God… You shall have no other gods before Me.” In today’s world, how easily is that first commandment forgotten, softened, or compromised? Most Christians would never say out loud they “worship other gods.” Yet, when we examine our lives—our time, our money, our thoughts, and our loyalties—we might find that something else has crept onto the throne that only God should occupy. A Commandment of Worship and Priority The first commandment isn’t just about avoiding pagan idols; it’s about the exclusive allegiance of your heart. God wants to be first—not just in name, but in truth. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He replied by echoing the heart of this first law: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37) Jesus knew what was at stake. If God is not first, everything else unravels. In the Old Testament, we see how Israel struggled with this. Time and again, they turned to idols, foreign gods, and the culture around them. 900 years before Jesus was born the prophet Elijah stood before a nation that had let the worship of Baal overtake their commitment to the Lord. He asked them, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21) That’s still the question today. Modern Idols in Disguise You probably don’t have a carved statue of Baal hanging in your living room. But idolatry isn’t limited to ancient altars. Today, idols often look more common place. For example: Career obsession – when our identity is based more on our success than on our Savior. Family or relationships – when we rely on others to fulfill us in ways only God can. Entertainment or comfort – when our pursuit of pleasure dulls our hunger for righteousness. Political ideologies – when we place more trust in earthly systems than in God’s sovereignty. Self – when we elevate our own desires above obedience to God’s Word. Paul warned in Romans 1:25, “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.” That’s the heart of the issue: worship misdirected. And when worship is misplaced, life becomes disordered. We try to fill the eternal space in our soul with temporary things, and wonder why we still feel empty. Reclaiming the First Place Putting God first isn’t just about Sunday morning church attendance. It’s about what happens in your heart Monday through Saturday. What do you think about most? What do you turn to for comfort or hope? What are you willing to sacrifice for? In Matthew 6:24 Jesus makes this strong statement: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other… You cannot serve God and wealth.” He wasn’t only talking about money. He was talking about loyalty, about worship, about who truly rules your heart. When something else takes God’s place—even something good—it becomes a god in our life. Yet remember Exodus: God doesn’t want to be first among many. He wants to be the only One. A Call to Return Throughout scripture, God continually calls His people to return to Him when they stray. The book of Hosea paints a powerful image of a faithful God pursuing His unfaithful people—not with wrath alone, but with love. In Revelation 2:4-5, Jesus addresses the church in Ephesus: “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first…” It’s not just about avoiding sin. It’s about returning to love. Returning to the awe and reverence we once had when we first believed. That moment when Jesus became everything to us. Putting God First Here are a few practical ways to realign your life with the first commandment: Start each day with Him. Before checking your phone or diving into your schedule, pause to pray and read His Word. Offer Him the first moments of your day. Guard your affections. Be honest about what steals your attention and affection from God. Fast from anything that has become too important. Worship intentionally. Don’t just sing songs—declare His worth, surrender your heart. True worship is a lifestyle. Tithe faithfully. Giving your first fruits—your income, time, and talents—demonstrates that God is your provider and priority. Choose obedience over convenience. When faced with temptation, remember that every decision reveals what or who you truly worship. When God Is First, Everything Changes Putting God first isn’t just about honoring Him; it also changes us. It brings order to our chaos, peace to our anxiety, and purpose to our wandering. When God is in His rightful place, we find our place. When He is the foundation, we no longer build our lives on shifting sand. As David wrote in Psalm 16:8, “I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” So… where is the First Commandment in your life? Is God truly first? Or has He become a part of your life rather than the center of it? This isn’t about guilt—it’s about grace. The same God who thundered the commandments from Sinai also whispered His love through the cross. He calls you back not with condemnation, but with compassion. He invites you to live free—not bound by false gods but anchored in the truth. Let’s take that to heart. May God continuously lead your path |