Title The Ten Commandments/Exodus 20:1-17
After the Israelites came out of Egypt, Moses was worried about how to lead these men to Canaan. At that moment, God gave him the Ten Commandments. This is the first commandment God has given us.
“You shall have no other gods before me.” Why should we keep these ten commandments? First, because this is a command from God. Second, because it is a command from God who freed and redeemed Israel. Third, because it is the word of God who has chosen and called me.
I. What the First Commandment Requires
The first commandment requires us to know God as 'the only true God' and 'our God'. Simply put, it means 'to know God'. It is to know the existence of God and His power and disposition, and to know the knowledge of God. We must go one step further and acknowledge God. 'Acknowledge him in all circumstances, and he will guide your way.' In any circumstance, seeking God first, and not having or allowing other gods to exist is to acknowledge God. Thereby worshiping God and glorifying him, that is what the first commandment requires.
II. What the First Commandment Forbids
The first commandment forbids us not to know God as our God, but to give all worship and glory to idols. It can be said in three ways, the first of which is atheism. There are two types of atheism: theoretical atheism (theoretically saying that there is no God) and practical atheism (they say that God exists with one's lips, but do not seek God when faced with a problem in reality). We shouldn't be anything. Second, there is blasphemy. Blasphemy is not only not knowing God, but knowing that he has been favored, but ignoring it. God forbids this too. The final prohibition is to indulge in idolatry. Greed brings idols. The greatest idol among them is his idol. We should worship and worship God, not a life in which we are glorified and worshiped.
Ⅲ. Serve God 'before God'
'You are not to serve any other gods besides me' (you are in front of me), that is, in the presence of all-seeing and all-knowing God. God is displeased with this. But today, many people create various idols and praise them. But God does not deprive other gods of the glory and praise that will come to him. The reason he created all things was to be glorified. So we should give glory and praise to God in His presence.
*Conclusions are given.
What is the right way to serve God? First, we can serve God through the church. The church is the place where you not only listen to sermons, but meet brothers in a church where there is the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. In this way, we must serve the Church of Christ, who became the body. Second, we can serve by following the Word. By obeying the Word, there is prayer, devotion to life, and good fruits. Finally, we can serve God by loving our neighbor. The Lord said that if someone gives you water in the name of the Lord when he is thirsty, you have done it for me. I hope that you will be able to become believers who serve neighbors, serve the Word, and serve the church, not just worship at a set time.