I am a jealous God...

2nd commandment...

"You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments."

This is a complex commandment, and not just because it is longer then the others. Idolatry--it's a word that most people don't understand. It's easy to look up it's meaning, but it's hard to understand the biblical definition of the word. "An idol? Do you mean like a statue to a god?" My anwser to that is yes--and no. Making an image or an idol is usually thought of as a statue, and for good reason, a statue that is being worshiped as a god is, in fact, an idol. "But people don't really make statues to worship anymore do they? That's so old fashioned!" Actually, yes they do, just not in the same way. There are still some people that make statues to worship, but the big thing now a days is worshiping the things we own. "I don't worship my car and my TV or anything like that, so I'm okay, right?" No you may not kneel and pray before them (unless a big game is on) however some people do treat their jobs or cars or phones like they are the most important things in their life. Family members, celebrities, spouses, these can all become idols to us if we are not careful. "Then how do you find grace in a commandment where God calls Himself jealous?" We can see it by looking at what we are really putting our faith in. I ask you, don't cars break down? Don't people lie, fall short, even pass away? Or we could go back to the statues, they are just stone, no more powerful than the rocks they are made from. Now ask your self, how bad does it hurt when a close family member betrays you? Doesn't loosing a job turn your life upside down? If the anwser to any of these is yes, then you should be able to see God's grace. He is not only trying to have us serve Him and Him only, He is trying to save us from the pain that comes from putting your trust in the things of this world that will ultimately let you down. Put your trust in Him and keep no idols in your heart. *MERRY CHRISTMAS*