Only God is Worthy of Your Worship
FOCUS TEXT: Exodus 20:3
This weekend at Anchor Church, we explored the first commandment: "You shall have no other gods before me." This isn’t a cold religious rule—it’s a covenant invitation from a rescuing God. Before He gives this command, God reminds His people of their redemption: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." The foundation of obedience is always grace.
Truth #1: You Were Created to Worship—And You Already Do
Every human is a worshiper. The question isn’t if we worship, but who—or what—we worship. Worship is not about songs or Sunday—it’s the orientation of your life. It’s what holds your deepest affection, drives your decisions, and defines your value. Because of sin, we’ve misdirected that worship toward created things: comfort, success, control, or image. These idols cannot save us—they distort and destroy us. God’s command is not a restriction; it’s a rescue. He’s calling us to the only kind of worship that leads to life and joy.
Truth #2: False Gods Promise Life but Only Deliver Slavery
Idols overpromise and underdeliver. They promise freedom, but enslave us. They demand sacrifices and still leave us empty. Scripture calls this exchanging the fountain of living water for broken cisterns (Jeremiah 2:13). Whether it’s the idol of autonomy, achievement, pleasure, politics, or even family—anything we worship besides God will ultimately consume us. But in Jesus, we find freedom from these gods that never satisfy. He alone is the fountain that gives life.
Truth #3: The One True God Is Jealous for Your Heart
God’s jealousy is not about insecurity—it’s about love. Like a faithful husband, He refuses to share your heart with another. He alone is God, and He alone is worthy. His jealousy protects us from wasting our worship on things that cannot satisfy. He wants every part of our lives—affections, habits, time, and priorities. His command is not a burden—it’s an invitation into deeper communion and covenant intimacy.
Truth #4: Jesus Fulfills the Command and Re-Centers Our Worship
We’ve all failed this command. We’ve all worshiped false gods. But Jesus never did. He perfectly loved the Father, resisted temptation, and remained faithful in every way. Then He went to the cross for idolaters like us. He bore our guilt and rose to set us free—not just from sin, but to worship rightly. Through Him, God gives us a new heart and His Spirit, empowering us to walk in joyful obedience. Worship becomes more than duty—it becomes delight.
Questions to Consider:
Who—or what—has captured your deepest affection?
What false gods have crept into your heart?
What would it look like to re-center your life on Jesus this week?
Prayer Response:
Father, thank You for rescuing us and calling us to worship You alone. Forgive us for the idols we’ve trusted. We lay them down today. Re-center our hearts on Jesus. Help us to worship not out of duty, but in joy. Fill us with Your Spirit and teach us to live with Christ at the center. In His name, Amen.
Memory Verse:
"You shall have no other gods before me." — Exodus 20:3 (ESV)
