Who is On First? Putting God at the Center of Your Life

In a world filled with distractions, where everything from social media notifications to career ambitions vies for our attention, it's easy to lose sight of what's truly important. But as believers grounded in the unchanging truth of Scripture, we know there's only one rightful occupant for the throne of our hearts: the Lord God Almighty. This blog post expands on a recent homily inspired by Exodus 20:1-3, reminding us of the foundational command that shapes our faith and lives. Let's dive deeper into why God must be first—and what happens when He's not.

The Divine Declaration: Who God Is

Exodus 20:1-3 thunders from the pages of the Bible: "And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me." This isn't just ancient history; it's a living mandate for every Christian today. God isn't introducing Himself as one option among many—He's declaring His sovereignty as the Creator, Redeemer, and King.

Think about the context: The Israelites had just been miraculously delivered from slavery in Egypt. Plagues, parted seas, manna from heaven—these weren't fairy tales but real interventions by a personal God. In the New Testament, this foreshadows our own redemption through Jesus Christ. As Paul writes in Colossians 1:13-14, God "hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." If you've experienced salvation—perhaps from a life of sin, doubt, or despair—how can we not respond with total devotion? Emphasizing this, we see God's identity isn't abstract; He's the active Savior who demands and deserves first place.

The Command: No Other Gods Before Him

The heart of the first commandment is exclusivity: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." In our fundamentalist understanding, this means literal obedience to the inerrant Word. No room for syncretism or compromise. But idolatry isn't just bowing to golden calves; it's subtler in modern times. We elevate money as our provider (Matthew 6:24 warns you can't serve God and mammon). We idolize relationships, letting them dictate our joy instead of finding it in Christ. Even good things like family or church activities can become gods if they eclipse our direct relationship with the Lord.

Expand this to society: Nations crumble when they reject this command. America, founded on biblical principles, now flirts with humanism, relativism, and false religions. Abortion, gender confusion, and moral decay are symptoms of dethroning God. As fundamentalists, we must stand unapologetically for truth, proclaiming that any "god" of self-worship or tolerance leads to judgment. Remember Hosea 4:6: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Ignorance of God's priority isn't bliss—it's destruction.

To emphasize, consider the baseball analogy from the homily. In that classic Abbott and Costello routine, confusion over "Who" being on first base leads to hilarious chaos. Spiritually, the stakes are eternal. If God isn't first in your marriage, expect strife. If He's not first in your finances, poverty of spirit follows. If He's not first in your daily routine—starting with prayer and Scripture—worldly influences will fill the void. I've seen it in ministries: Pastors who prioritize programs over personal holiness burn out, congregations that chase trends over truth dwindle.

Living It Out: Practical Steps for Prioritizing God

So, how do we ensure God is "on first"? Start with self-examination, as 2 Corinthians 13:5 urges: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith." Audit your time: Does your schedule reflect God's priority? Begin each day with Bible reading—perhaps the King James Version for its purity—and prayer. Tithe faithfully, not as legalism but as worship (Malachi 3:10). In evangelism, share the Gospel boldly, undiluted by cultural pressures.

For families, reinstate the family altar: Evening devotions where Scripture is read and discussed. Shun media that glorifies sin; instead, fill your home with hymns and biblical teaching. In a world pushing evolution and atheism in schools, homeschool or vigilantly disciple your children to know God first.

And don't forget repentance. If idols have crept in—confess them. James 4:7-8 promises: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." Restoration awaits those who realign their priorities.

Conclusion: The Freedom of First Place

Putting God first isn't burdensome; it's liberating. It frees us from the bondage of lesser things, echoing our exodus from sin through Christ. As we commit to this, we'll witness His blessings: Peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7), provision in trials (Matthew 6:33), and power for holy living.

Who is on first in your life? Let it be the Lord. Recommit today, and watch your faith flourish.

In Jesus' name, may this truth transform us. Amen.

DMMC11-12-25

Location: Peru, IN 46970, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Dialysis Day with Dave

Image
Just wanted to run you through an average dialysis day for me and so many others. ----------------------------------------- The alarm shrieks, cutting through the dawn quiet at 7:30 AM, sharp and insistent. Dave groans, rolling over to silence it. His body feels heavy, like it’s still tethered to the bed, but he knows he can’t linger. Dialysis days start early, and the clinic waits for no one. He swings his legs over the side of the bed, pausing to catch his breath. The familiar ache in his lower back is there, a dull throb---a reminder of the fluid his kidneys can’t clear anymore. He shuffles to the bathroom, splashes cold water on his face, and stares at his reflection. His eyes are a little puffy today, but he forces a half-smile. “You got this,” he mutters, a mantra he’s leaned into since his diagnosis. He knows that it's only the strength from God that is getting him through each day. Breakfast is light—oatmeal with a few blueberries, no salt, no bananas. He’s memorized the re...
Read more

The Hidden Sons of Abraham: Prophetic Promises of Redemption and End-Times Glory

Image
As Christians, we hold fast to the inerrant Word of God, taking every verse literally and seriously as the blueprint for history, prophecy, and our eternal hope. Today, let's dive into a often-overlooked passage in Genesis that reveals God's grand design for redemption—not just for Israel, but for all nations through Abraham's seed. These "hidden peoples," the sons of Abraham and Keturah , are no mere footnote in Scripture. They point to the fulfillment of God's covenants, the ingathering of the Gentiles, and the ultimate triumph of Yeshua the Messiah in the end times. Using the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) for its faithful rendering of the Hebrew roots , we'll uncover how these descendants fade from the narrative only to reemerge in powerful prophecies of blessing and redemption. Abraham's Later Family: A Foundation of Many Nations Our story begins in Genesis 25:1-6 (CJB): 25:1 Avraham took another wife, whose name was K’turah. 25:2 She bore him Zimra...
Read more

The Red Horse of Judgment: Biblical Prophecy and Its Urgent Implications for Today

Image
In the shadow of escalating global tensions and the unyielding march toward the end times, the Scriptures call us to vigilance. As Bible-believing Christians, we must interpret God's Word literally and apply it to the world around us. Drawing from Revelation 6 , Psalm 83 , and Ezekiel 38 , this blog post delves deeper into the Red Horse of judgment —its meaning, its connections to ancient prophecies, and its profound implications for our faith and the world in 2025. With wars raging and alliances forming that echo biblical warnings, now is the time to heed these truths and prepare our hearts for Christ's imminent return. Understanding the Red Horse: Symbol of War and Divine Judgment The book of Revelation, penned by the Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos , unveils the sequence of end-time events through the breaking of seven seals by the Lamb, Jesus Christ . The first four seals release the infamous Four Horsemen , each representing a facet of God's judgment during the Tri...
Read more