January 14th | He Alone Is Worthy

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Deep Thoughts.

Day 2 of exploring our identity in Christ: Exodus 20:3 – "You shall have no other gods before me." No deity—real or imagined—should ever rival the one true God. Verse 5 adds, "...for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God..."

This raises a fair question: Aren't we commanded to avoid jealousy? What kind of example does a "jealous" God set? Let's dig deeper before answering.

Scripture repeatedly describes God this way:

- Deuteronomy 4:23-24: "...do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."

- Joshua 24:19: Joshua tells Israel, "You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins." (Pre-Jesus era)

- Psalm 78:58: "They angered Him with their high places; they aroused His jealousy with their idols."

- 1 Corinthians 10:22 (Paul addressing idol worship in the New Testament): "Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than He?"

- James 4:4-5: "You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that He jealously longs for the spirit He has caused to dwell in us?"

God's jealousy isn't like sinful human jealousy (envy or resentment over what others have). It's a holy, passionate zeal—rooted in perfect love and righteousness—for what rightfully belongs to Him: our exclusive worship, devotion, and love. He is "jealous for us" because we are His, and He guards that relationship fiercely, like a faithful spouse protecting a covenant.

Idols, by contrast, have two key flaws:

1. They have no real existence (they're false, powerless).

2. They cannot save or deliver.

Isaiah 45:5-6 declares: "I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other."

In our daily lives, it's easy to let idols creep in—not always dramatically, but incrementally over time if we're not vigilant. One small shift in priority here, a little more reliance there, and suddenly something else takes center stage.

Think about those moments when God slips from being front-of-mind. What fills that space?

- Your job or career success?

- Money and financial security?

- A title, status, or reputation?

- A role (parent, spouse, leader)?

- A hobby, passion, addiction, or favorite pastime?

- Past successes that define your worth?

- Even past failures that you've let shape a false, comfortable identity of defeat or victimhood?

These earthly things can become idols when they gradually replace God as our source of identity, security, value, or ultimate hope. They start small—maybe just a bit more time or emotional energy invested—but over time, they crowd Him out, leading to divided devotion.

That's why God is jealous: He longs for our exclusive allegiance because He alone is worthy, and He knows nothing else can truly satisfy or save us.

Our true identity is secure as children of God. Start each day by affirming that priority—declaring who He is and who you are in Him through Scripture and prayer. It resets your focus, guards against subtle drift, and keeps idols at bay.

What small step will you take today to guard your devotion and keep God first?