Logically from the First – The Second Commandment

Logically from the First

The Second Commandment

Exodus 20:4, 5

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God…”

Review each of the meditations from the past week. The second commandment follows logically from the first. If it is reasonable for us to worship and serve only God, it makes sense that we take precautions to develop our abilities in each of these areas, and that we guard against anything that might distract us from these two great tasks. Fullness of life is found in the Lord, as He guides and teaches us to bow and serve Him.

Pray

Thank You, Lord, that You have given me this warning about idols. Help me to be alert to anything that seeks to capture my mind and heart and draw me away from worshiping and serving You only. You have promised that in Your presence are fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore (Ps. 16.11). This is what I want to know, more and more every day. Help me know how I might better keep my heart and mind, and all my practices, aligned with your command to worship and serve You only.

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“In the Gates” is a devotional series on the Law of God by Rev. T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is editor of the Worldview Church. He serves as dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He is the author or editor of twenty books, and has contributed chapters to four others. His essays, reviews, articles, papers, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and international journals, and on a wide range of websites. His most recent books are The Ailbe Psalter and The Ground for Christian Ethics (Waxed Tablet).

Scripture quotations in this article are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (c) copyright 2001,2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Editor’s note: The use of a translation other than the Authorised Version in an article does not constitute an endorsement in whole or in part by The Christian Observer.