What's in the Bible Disc 2 Episode 2

What’s in the bible disc 2 episode 2 Devo

What is the most important commandment that God gave his people in Exodus?

Exodus 20Common English Bible (CEB)

20 Then God spoke all these words:

² I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

³ You must have no other gods before^[a] me.

⁴ Do not make an idol for yourself—no form whatsoever—of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. ⁵ Do not bow down to them or worship them, because I, the Lord your God, am a passionate God.

When God gave his people this command it was because all of the other people around the Hebrews would worship made up gods that were in the form of statures called idols.  Often times the people thought that these made up gods wanted them to do cruel things, like hurt themselves or sacrifice babies.  God did not want people to follow these made up gods, and so he wanted the Hebrew people to show the world what it looks like when someone follows the one true God. 

Today we probably don’t know anyone who follows those old made up gods, but sometimes we can be tempted to put other things before God. 

What are some things that people might put before God?

Money?  Activities?  Good Grades?  A boyfriend or girlfriend?  Yourself?

Everyone has a thing that we are tempted to put before God.  Even though we are not literally bowing down to made up gods like some people did in the book of Exodus, we break the first commandment when we put anything before God. 

How can we put God first?  By living a life where we do our best to follow the teachings of Jesus. 

Grab a bible and read Matthew 5:1-16 together.  What do you learn about putting God first?