Have you given up on the God who rescued you?Today's Scripture:
You must worship no other gods, but only the LORD, for he is a God who is passionate about His relationship with you.
Exodus 34:14
The Israelites saw God part the Red Sea and save them from captivity in Egypt. But soon afterward, they gave up on the God who'd rescued them. They chose to worship a golden calf instead. Brothers and sisters I ask you today in 2010 what is your golden calf? Is it money, clothing, gadgets? Is it your job, school or other people like your spouses, boyfriends or girlfriends? When Moses returned from receiving the Ten Commandments, he saw the Israelites - God's people - engaged in idolatry. Moses threw the tablets to the ground, shattering them just as the people had shattered God's first commandment - to worship only God.
God is a God of second chances, however. God gave Moses new tablets and reiterated his commands. Those commands are as important today as they were for the Israelites. Not because God is a strict disciplinarian who demands that you follow an arbitray list of rules "or else," but because God designed his commands to build relationship with him and with the people around you. Obeying God's commands helps you to love well.
Selah people' and friends the first commandment, that God alone is to be worshiped, is at the heart of them all. God doesn't ask for worship because His ego needs stroking. He asks it because worshipping him alone is the best thing that could happen to you. You don't have to kneel before a golden calf to worship idols.
An idol is anything for which you have a deeper devotion than for God.
An idol could be power, money, comfort, pleasure, even religion. I get some strange looks from people as a pastor when I tell them I am not a "religious" person, meaning I don't try to get tangled in denomination and driven by mere liturgy. Worshiping God above everything else keeps life in the proper perspective. God is passionate about His relationship with you. Worshiping Him alone helps you become more passionate about Him.
"Consider what's important in your life today. Weigh your relationship with God in light of everything else. Ask God to help you identify anything to which you give higher priority than getting to know him better. May you and I continue to grow spiritually in 2010 as we continue to walk with our Lord."
Your pastor,
Rev Patrick Muston
Selah Christian Church
Four Oaks, NC ~ http://selahchurch.com/
Church Blog: http://selahchurch.blogspot.com/
Media site: http://selahmedia.tripod.com/
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