DAY 1 – April 19, 2010
“BACK TO BASICS” (a study of the Ten Commandments)
TITLE: “YOU SHALL NOT MAKE”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” Exodus 20:4
The Israelites had the ability to make idols. The reality is that we do, too. As someone once said, “Today's idols are more in the self than on the shelf.” One writer said, “Though we do not face a pantheon of false gods like the Israelites did, we face pressures from a pantheon of false values--materialism, love of leisure, sensuality, worship of self, security, and many others.”
Yes, we can make idols of many things. As Theologian James Packer said, “Indeed the list of other gods is endless, for anything that anyone allows to run his life becomes his god.” Here are a few questions that can help us to identify possible idols in our lives. What is the object of our affections, our efforts, and our attention? Where does the majority of our time go? On what do we spend the greatest amount of our resources?
In his book, The Wounded Healer, author Henri Nouwen retells a tale from ancient
I, said the second, know how to grow that creature's skin and hair if there is flesh on its bones. The third said, I am able to create its limbs if I have flesh, the skin, and the hair. And I, concluded the fourth, know how to give life to that creature if its form is complete.”
Thereupon the brothers went into the jungle to find a bone so they could demonstrate their specialties. As fate would have it, the bone they found was a lion's. One added flesh to the bone, the second grew hide and hair, the third completed it with matching limbs, and the fourth gave the lion life. Shaking its mane, the ferocious beast arose and jumped on his creators. He killed them all and vanished contentedly into the jungle.
We, too, have the capacity to create or make what can devour and destroy us. To address this, God commands us not to make for ourselves an idol. No one but God can represent Himself. Keep your heart, passion, and focus centered upon the one and only God.
DAY 2 – April 20, 2010
“BACK TO BASICS” (a study of the Ten Commandments)
TITLE: “WORSHIP”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “You shall not bow down to them or worship them;…” Exodus 20:5
“O worship the King, all glorious above,
And gratefully sing His wonderful love:
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with
praise.
O tell of His might, and sing of His grace,
Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space.
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form
And dark is His path on the wings of the storm.
Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air; it shines in the light.
It streams from the hills; it descends to the plain,
And
sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.”
This hymn by Robert Grant, beautifully expresses the worthiness of God to be worshipped. He alone is worthy of our worship. Author Ralph Martin says, "Worship is the dramatic celebration of God in His supreme worth in such a manner that His ‘worthiness’ becomes the norm and inspiration of human living." The declaration of God's worth is at the very heart of worship.
The principal Old Testament word for worship is "Abodah," which means to “bow down,” or to “prostrate”. The word is applied to acts of reverence for human superiors as well as the supernatural. Worship is based on the worthiness of the one being worshipped. God alone is worthy of our worship so we are not to bow down or worship idols. Nothing is to get in the way of our worship of the true and living God. Take a few moments to examine your own worship as you read and reflect on these verses from Psalm 96 today.
“For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.” Psalm 96:4-9
DAY 3 – April 21, 2010
“BACK TO BASICS” (a study of the Ten Commandments)
TITLE: “A JEALOUS GOD”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “…For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.” Exodus 20:5
It has been told that Irish novelist and playwright Samuel Beckett received great recognition for his work, but not every one savored his accomplishments. Beckett's marriage, in fact, was soured by his wife's jealousy of his growing fame and success as a writer. One day in 1969 his wife, Suzanne, answered the telephone, listened for a moment, spoke briefly, and hung up. She then turned to Beckett and with a stricken look whispered, "What a catastrophe!" Was it a devastating personal tragedy? No, she had just learned that Beckett had been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature! She was jealous.
The God of the Bible is a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:24
says, “For the Lord your God is a
consuming fire, a jealous God.”
Often we think of jealousy as a non-Christian emotion. In fact, the
description, “A jealous God”, may sound somewhat offensive and contradictory.
As we focus on the jealousy of God, it is helpful to understand that jealousy
does not refer to an emotion so much as to an activity. God’s jealousy for His
people is not seen as intolerance, but exclusiveness. This springs both from
the uniqueness of God (who is not one among many) and the uniqueness of His
relationship to
God is active and involved in our lives out of His undying love for us. As a husband is jealous of the love of his wife, so is God jealous of our love. Because God is jealous, He responds to the faithless among His people who fall into idolatry and sin. God calls us to be a faithful people in response to His faithfulness and covenant love.
How do you respond to God’s covenant love for you? Scripture is clear that the proper response to His jealousy is a passionate love for Him. In other words, the natural response to God’s burning love for us should be a burning love for Him. One word used to describe this kind of love or devotion is zeal. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11. How is your spiritual fervor today?
DAY 4 – April 22, 2010
“BACK TO BASICS” (a study of the Ten Commandments)
TITLE: “SHOWING LOVE”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “But showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:6
Counselor, Dr. Gary Chapman
published his popular book, The 5 Love Languages, back in 1992. Since that time over five million copies have been
sold, making The 5 Love Languages a perennial New York Times bestseller.
Of the countless ways we can show love to one another, Dr. Gary Chapman
concludes, there are five key categories, or five love languages that are
universal and comprehensive. The five languages of love he identifies are,
Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and
Physical Touch.
God is a God who is always
showing His love. The
“Jesus loves me! This I know, For
the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong; They
are weak, but He is strong.
Jesus loves me! This I know, As
He loved so long ago,
Taking children on His knee, Saying,
“Let them come to Me.”
Jesus loves me when I'm good, When I do the things
I should,
Jesus loves me when I'm bad, Though
it makes Him very sad.
Jesus loves me still today, Walking with me on my
way,
Wanting as a friend to give Light and love to all who live.
Jesus loves me! He who died Heaven’s gate to open
wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.
Jesus loves me! He will stay Close beside me all
the way;
Thou hast bled and died for me, I will henceforth
live for Thee.
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.” (poem by Anna B. Warner; chorus added by William Bradbury)
DAY 5 – April 23, 2010
“BACK TO BASICS” (a study of the Ten Commandments)
TITLE: “KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “But showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:6
What is your attitude toward the commandments of God? The Psalmist wrote, “For I delight in your commands because I love them. I lift up my hand to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.” Psalm 119:47-48. What is your attitude towards God’s commands?
The Psalmist understood that he needed the commands of God to keep him on track. He said, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.” Psalm 119:9-10. He found delight when he followed the guidelines of God. He wrote, “Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statues and not toward selfish gain.” Psalm 119:35-36. The Psalmist knew that the commands of God would lead him in the right direction. He knew they were dependable and true and would never fail. He wrote, “Yet you are near, O Lord, and all your commands are true. Long ago I learned from your statues that you established them to last forever.” Psalm 119:151-152. He again wrote, “All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.” Psalm 119:160. What is your attitude towards the commands of God?
The Psalmist saw great value in the commands of God. Listen to these words from the heart of the Psalmist. He said, “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statues. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.” Psalm 119:97-104. What is your attitude towards the commands of God?
The commandments are gifts and guidelines that are given by a loving God for His people. God’s commandments are given for our good. The Psalmist understood that and loved the commands of God. He wrote, “Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path. Your statues are wonderful; therefore I obey them. The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands.” Psalm 119:127-131. What is your attitude and response to the commands of God?