Years ago, one of the credit card companies ran a campaign suggesting theirs is "the only card we need."
The first instruction from God having to do with respecting God says, we are to have "no other gods. Only me."
The truth is that people in a free society must respect people who worship other gods. But from the individual's perspective, it is impossible to be loyal to more than one god, especially when the gods demand different things.
So here, God says "as the one who heard your cries and came to your rescue, trust me to be the only God you need."
The first instruction frees us from having to kowtow to every god who comes along. God is the only God we need. And he has proven that in the way he bested the gods of Egypt.
But there is another reason why we are to make God the only God for us - only God of the Hebrews is passionate about our freedom. Most other gods enslave us to their allure. Think of the gods of the 21st Century: think of the dieties of endlss pleasure and boundless power We bow to the worship of plenteous wealth which promises to give us all the pleasure and power we want. In the end, money makes us slave to our desires and appetites, and we become as cold as a copper penny..
God says "respect me by not running off to lay in the beds of other gods. I am passionate about your freedom. I am all you need."
Write
Think about your faith story: how important is freedom to you? How have you been attracted to the allure of other gods?
in your life presently, in what way you bow to the gods of pleasure, power and wealth?
Who do you know is feeling enslaved by other gods?
Pray
What
is God saying to you today? What's Good News to you?
Talk to God about your experience of bowing to no other gods. Thank God for his passion for our freedom, his promise to be the only god you need.
Pray about your present struggle with the gods of pleasure, power and wealth. Ask God for the help you need, the reassureance of his presence, and the courage to let God be the only God you need.
Pray for your friend who is feeling "enslaved" by their gods. Ask God to give you the wisdom and opportunity to come along side your friend and walk with them to greater freedom.
Pray for an experience of God's love, grace and mercy in the way he guards your freedom, the way is the only God you need, and the way he rescues you continually from enslaving gods.