Embracing God: The First Commandment's Call

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing God as He Truly Is

The greatest challenge in our lives is to let God be God, recognizing Him as He truly is, not as we might want Him to be. This commandment calls for a personal encounter with the Creator, who knows us intimately. It is a call to see God as unchanging, self-existing, and independent of human culture. This understanding requires us to confront our own desires to reshape God to fit our personal agendas, a struggle that dates back to the Garden of Eden. By acknowledging God in His true form, we begin a journey of faith that is rooted in His character and not our own perceptions. [01:10]

"For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob." (Malachi 3:6, ESV)

Reflection: What preconceived notions about God do you need to let go of to truly recognize Him as He is today?

Day 2: The Connection Between Values and Worship

The values we hold are deeply connected to the God we worship. When society shifts away from the biblical God, it seeks new gods to justify different values and lifestyles. This reshaping of God to fit personal agendas is a recurring theme throughout history. As we examine our own lives, we must consider how our values align with the God we claim to worship. Are we allowing cultural shifts to redefine our understanding of God, or are we steadfast in our commitment to His unchanging nature? This reflection is crucial in a world where values are constantly debated and redefined. [04:52]

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: How have societal values influenced your perception of God, and what steps can you take to align your values with His?

Day 3: God's Goodness and Our Grateful Response

God is not only God but also good. His deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt and His ultimate rescue through Jesus Christ demonstrate His gracious nature. This goodness calls for a response of gratitude and loving loyalty. Recognizing God's goodness in our lives should lead us to cultivate a deep affection for Him, turning away from anything that offends Him. Our response is not out of obligation but out of a heartfelt recognition of His grace and mercy. This gratitude should permeate every aspect of our lives, influencing how we interact with others and how we live out our faith. [17:34]

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" (Psalm 34:8, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you express gratitude to God today for His goodness in your life?

Day 4: Examining What Holds the Place of God

The first commandment challenges us to examine what truly holds the place of God in our lives. It calls us to cultivate our affection for Him, turn away from anything that offends Him, and subject everything to Him. This examination requires honesty and introspection, as we identify the idols that may have taken precedence over our relationship with God. By doing so, we commit to an unconditional relationship with Him, free from conditions or negotiations. This is a lifelong journey, but one that leads us to a deeper understanding and love for God. [22:15]

"Little children, keep yourselves from idols." (1 John 5:21, ESV)

Reflection: What is one thing in your life that has taken precedence over your relationship with God, and how can you begin to change that today?

Day 5: Embracing God Unconditionally

Embracing God unconditionally is a step of faith based on trust in His character. This commitment is foundational for our relationship with God and influences all other relationships in our lives. It requires us to let go of our own agendas and fully trust in His plan for us. This unconditional embrace of God is not a one-time decision but a daily choice to follow Him wholeheartedly. As we do so, we find that our lives are transformed, and our relationships are enriched by His presence and guidance. [31:22]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God, and what would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Sermon Summary

In our journey through the Ten Commandments, we begin with the foundational commandment: "You shall have no other gods before me." This commandment addresses the greatest struggle of our lives—the struggle to let God be God. Before delving into the commandments, it's crucial to meet the Commander, the Lord who brought the Israelites out of Egypt. This introduction underscores the personal nature of the commandments, as they reflect God's character and are not merely arbitrary rules.

In today's society, values are hotly debated, and the Ten Commandments are often at the center of this controversy because they are intrinsically linked to the God of the Bible. The values we hold are shaped by the God we worship, and when society shifts away from the biblical God, it seeks new gods to justify different values and lifestyles. This reshaping of God to fit personal agendas is not new; it dates back to the Garden of Eden, where humanity first attempted to redefine God to suit their desires.

The commandment to have no other gods is a call to recognize God as He is—unchanging, self-existing, and independent of human culture. He is not a product of history or culture but the Creator and Sustainer of all things. This God, Yahweh, is not only God but also good. He delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, not out of obligation but out of His gracious nature. This goodness is most clearly seen in Jesus Christ, who came to rescue us from sin.

Our response to this God should be one of loving loyalty, motivated by gratitude for His grace. Practically, this means cultivating our affection for Him, turning away from anything that offends Him, and subjecting everything in our lives to Him. The first commandment challenges us to examine what truly holds the place of God in our lives. It calls us to an unconditional commitment to God, free from conditions or negotiations. This is a lifelong struggle, but it is one that leads us to reach out to Jesus for help, asking Him to create a deep love for God within us.

Key Takeaways

1. The struggle to let God be God is the greatest challenge of our lives. This commandment calls us to recognize God as He truly is, not as we might want Him to be. It is a personal encounter with the Creator who knows us intimately. [01:10]
2. The values we hold are deeply connected to the God we worship. When society shifts away from the biblical God, it seeks new gods to justify different values and lifestyles. This reshaping of God to fit personal agendas is a recurring theme throughout history. [04:52]
3. God is not only God but also good. His deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt and His ultimate rescue through Jesus Christ demonstrate His gracious nature. Our response should be one of gratitude and loving loyalty. [17:34]
4. The first commandment challenges us to examine what truly holds the place of God in our lives. It calls us to cultivate our affection for Him, turn away from anything that offends Him, and subject everything to Him. [22:15]
5. Embracing God unconditionally is a step of faith based on trust in His character. This commitment is foundational for our relationship with God and influences all other relationships in our lives. [31:22]
** [31:22]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - Introduction to the Ten Commandments
[00:52] - The First Commandment
[01:27] - Meeting the Commander
[02:17] - The Debate Over Values
[03:29] - The Source of the Ten Commandments
[04:18] - God, Values, and Lifestyle
[05:23] - The Search for New Gods
[06:05] - The Garden of Eden Parallel
[07:53] - The History of Gods
[09:11] - Why Follow This God?
[10:10] - The Name of God: Yahweh
[12:19] - God Is Who He Is
[15:06] - God Is Good
[17:34] - The Foundation of the Commandments
[21:31] - A Life of Loving Loyalty
[22:15] - Keeping the First Commandment
[27:25] - Modern Idols
[31:22] - Embracing God Unconditionally
[34:29] - The Lifelong Struggle
[36:21] - Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

The greatest struggle of your life and mine is simply this: our struggle to let God be God. It's very significant that before giving the Ten Commandments, God introduces himself. So it's only appropriate that before we launch into the Commandments, we actually meet the commander. [00:01:10]

Values come from somewhere, and the first thing that we need to grasp about the Ten Commandments is that they are a reflection of the character of God. That's why he introduces himself before he tells us what he wants us to hear. [00:03:10]

The God you worship will shape the values that you hold, and the values that you hold will in turn shape the lifestyle that you pursue. There's no separating these things: God, values, lifestyle—they are integrally connected. [00:04:18]

The reshaping of God to suit a different agenda goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. You remember that God had given just one commandment: don't touch the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. Satan came in to the first man and the first woman in the garden and began to suggest that God's commandment was far too restrictive. [00:06:05]

God is who he is. He's not whoever you or I might want him to be. He is not the product of some ancient culture. He wasn't thought up by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the Creator and the sustainer of all things. He is the unchanging, self-existing God. [00:12:19]

The Creator himself, who has all power and is accountable to and subject to nobody, does not make his appeal to you on the basis of raw power like some dictator. He comes to you and appeals as the gracious God who extends Mercy towards you. [00:15:06]

Our calling is to a life of loving loyalty. This God introduces himself and now he says to us, you shall have no other gods before me. Your calling in mine is to give ourselves to a life of loving loyalty to The God Who Loved us and gave himself for us. [00:21:31]

Cultivating your affection for him means thinking about him, remembering him, appreciating him, honoring him, choosing him, loving him, desiring him, feeding him. It's going to mean believing him, trusting him, hoping in him, delighting in him, being zealous for him, calling upon his name, giving thanks to him in All Things. [00:22:15]

Anything that puts someone or something else on the throne of my life, puts them in a controlling position, breaks the first commandment because God Alone belongs there. You shall have no other gods before me. [00:24:25]

The problem for us arises when we take the gifts and we put the gifts in the place of The Giver. That is idolatry. To boil this down, I was very moved earlier this summer when our high school Ministry had a farewell for seniors. [00:27:25]

Your challenge is to embrace him unconditionally. You shall have no other gods before me. Now this is where we come to a step of faith, a step of faith that God invites every one of us to take on the basis of trust. He's God, he's good. Are you ready to embrace him today unconditionally? [00:31:22]

The more I've looked at it, the more deeply convinced I've become this is a lifelong struggle and it's much harder than I thought. You can look at a cliff face from a distance and say, you know, I could climb that. Boy, when you get up close to the first commandment, you realize it's much tougher than you ever thought. [00:34:29]

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