Saturday, March 14

...you shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3


Exodus 20:3 commands us that “Thou shalt have no other gods before me”. Is it not ironic this year that Lent, a season of reflection and prayer, coincides with such world wide economic distress over what is happening to the “things” around which we have built our lives. These words from Exodus starkly remind us that worshipping “idols” and “other gods” might also be seen as defining our purpose in life through the markers of our job titles, house values, brokerage accounts, and other “things” that have become gods to us. The danger is that when we have so long worshipped such material things, we risk forgetting that everything in our lives comes from God and to be truly Christ’s people, we need to change our focus, to forsake these idols and follow him. Matthew 6:33 reminds us to “…seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”


Merciful God; in this Lenten season, help us to set aside our old natural preoccupation with our “other gods”, and to seek the new life promised us through Christ. Amen.

Deacon, Dot Taylor