Thoughts for the Day

Since you saw no form when the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire, take care and watch yourselves closely, so that you do not act corruptly by making an idol for yourselves, in the form of any figure—the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth. And when you look up to the heavens and see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, do not be led astray and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples everywhere under heaven. But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron-smelter, out of Egypt, to become a people of his very own possession, as you are now.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today we look at Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Hebrew Scriptures (our Old Testament), which is written in the form of a farewell sermon by Moses to the Israelites before they cross the river Jordan into Canaan. It is a re-statement or renewal of the laws that Moses first gave to the people at Horeb (that is, Sinai). God has indicated that Moses will die before crossing into this new land, and like any good leader he wants to prepare his people. He emphasises that the observance of these laws is essential for the well-being of the people in the land they are about to possess. Today's passage looks at the First Commandment. God demands that the people have no other gods nor shall they worship idols. The Israelites had already broken this in the past (Exodus 32.1-6)!

In the modern world we may not make statues to worship, but many of us unconsciously break this Law. Ask yourself what you put before God, and what are your priorities. When we put other things before going to church, or make excuses not to pray or read our bible, we are putting other things before God. When we become hooked on something whether it's drink or drugs or being wrapped up in another person or our children, so that nothing else exists in our life, then we are on a slippery slope. These can become idols! We need to allow space and time for God - the God who loves us and cares for us, and who will help us to find time for Him.

On applying to become a Deaconess in the 1980s I was asked at a Selection Conference about my prayer life. I remember saying that I prayed while I washed-up the dishes, because of having two active boys under five who woke at dawn. I went back home to think again about how to spend some quality time (if still short) with God. Luckily the Church, and God, thought I might improve!

Lord God,
may we learn to put You first in our life,
and from that vantage point
allow all other things to slide in place,
so that we see everything from Your perspective,
and not our own warped view.
Amen.