file: /pub/resources/text/Our.Daily.Bread: db940911.txt
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OUR DAILY BREAD                        Sunday, September 11, 1994
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READ:  Deuteronomy 5:1-7



                            "WORSHIP ONLY GOD"

                  "You shall have no other gods before Me."

                               Exodus 20:3

British statesman W. E. Gladstone (1809-98) visited Christ Church 
College and spoke optimistically about the betterment of English 
society during his lifetime. His outlook was so positive that a 
student challenged him:  "Sir, are there no adverse signs?"  
Gladstone reflected, "Yes, there is one thing that frightens me- 
the fear that God seems to be dying out of the minds of men."

Obeying the first commandment would prevent this from happening.  
Yet man attempts to make gods out of money, material possessions, 
pleasure, knowledge, people, and in so doing forgets the true God.  
But no created thing can ever fill the place in our heart God 
intends for Himself.

A child was asked, "How many gods are there?"  "Only one," he 
replied.  "How do you know?"  "Because," he said, "God fills 
heaven and earth, so there's room for only one."

Our worship of God becomes focused when we receive Jesus as our 
personal Savior, for He is God in the flesh (Jn. 1:14).  But why 
does God command us to love and worship Him alone?  Because in Him 
we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28), and from Him we 
receive eternal life (Col. 1:13-18).  He has every right to say, 
"No other gods!" because He alone is the living and true God, who 
created us and redeemed us.

    - Dennis J. DeHaan

 For further study and reflection:

 Matthew 10:34-39; Matthew 22:34-40;
 Mark 12:28-34; Luke 10:25-28

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
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Only God who fills the universe can fill the human heart.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Ezekiel 1-3
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Our Daily Bread, Copyright 1994, used by permission of Radio Bible 
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