10 Commandments Continued – 1st Commandment – “You shall have no other gods before Me.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 is a very popular verse on Facebook right now and for good reason.

Many God fearing People are concerned that our nation might be in severe trouble in many ways but especially morally. I agree and share that same concern.

We definitely seem to be in deep doo doo and the coarse words from the less God fearing members of our society are actually a very truthful and accurate commentary of where we are at.

I’ve been thinking how our own national sin of exterminating babies before they are born parallels very much the reign of terror that Hitler brought on the Jews and gypsies and Bolsheviks of his time. January 27, 1945 was when Auschwitz was liberated. That was over 75 years ago.

January 22, 1973 was the Roe v. Wade landmark decision of the United States Supreme court to legalize abortion.

That decision was based on giving women the right to choose whether to terminate the life of their unborn child. It was a 7 to 2 decision in the Supreme Court and it leaned heavily toward the right of women but for babies, not so much. Babies were dehumanized and called fetuses to ease our conscience. The word fetus simply means offspring.

Hitler dehumanized Jews and compared them to rats and vermin a plague on society.

So Hitler in the Nazi mind was actually helping to make a healthier society by ridding Germany and the surrounding countries of these “vermin”. They preferred to see it at that time as a national health issue not an extermination of vulnerable people.

It’s interesting that the left today frames abortion as a women’s health issue. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

So I’m thinking about the Chronicles passage of humbling ourselves and praying and seeking God‘s face and turning from our wicked ways. My first inclination was to think about the commandment “you shall not murder”.

But then God put on my heart that “don’t murder” is not the first commandment. That’s when I decided to take a little time and go over each of God‘s commands that he gave to us through Moses.

We are to humble ourselves and pray because we see that our country is in dire straits. And we want our land to be healed. But He also says “seek My face” and “turn from your wicked ways”. So how do we do that as God’s people, because He puts the onus on us, not the government or the wicked people of our society.

This is where God brought to my attention the first of the 10 Commandments “you shall have no other gods before Me”. Although I wanted to start with the commandment concerning murder, I believe this is where God wants us to start….by putting Him first.

This has everything to do with the core of our faith. It has everything to do with putting our money where our mouth is and acting on what we believe. It has everything to do with what God means when He says seek My face.

Do I want a comfortable life, a peaceful existence? Do I want to feel affirmed and validated? Do I want all the latest conveniences?

God says look for Me and you will find Me when you seek My face. Jesus tells us to open the door and let Me in and I’ll fellowship with you. I will eat and drink with you and sit down with you and you will have My presence. He does not tell us what we will eat or drink or what will be our cup in life, but He does promise Himself to us. Do I love him more than anything else? Is He my great reward? Do I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my God will supply all my needs according to Christ Jesus.

Do I know both parts of Hebrews 11:6?

One— that God exists and Second —-that He is the rewarder of everyone who seeks Him.

How will He reward me? And is it worth it? What will it cost me to seek the face of Jesus?

“You shall have no other gods before Me.”

Lord Jesus forgive me and forgive Your people many times we have not valued You as the priceless treasure that You are.

All things were created by Your spoken word and nothing good exists outside of You

Jesus you have my heart and my adoration. You hold me and all things in Your very capable hands. Jesus I love You and I have no other gods besides You. You and the Father are One and you have given me Your Holy Spirit to live inside of me to be all that I need.

I repent for putting priority on other things besides You. Please restore my heart and the heart of all Your people and restore our land.