Sunday May 18, 2025
You shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3
I love the encouragement of the Heidelberg Catechism which was originally published in 1563. If you’re familiar with it, you may remember how it begins with a wonderful question and an even more wonderful answer. The question is What is your only comfort in life and in death? And the expected answer is, “That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ!” It then goes on to marvel how he has fully paid for all my sins, set me free from the power of the devil, keeps me in faith and assures me of eternal life through the Holy Spirit! If you’ve never done so, I would urge you to get a copy and read these wonderful, encouraging words. (BONUS: There is a new devotional version that came out last year called My Only Comfort that is very much worth having!)
Among the many things the Heidelberg Catechism does well is take the reader through each of the Ten Commandments to show how the truths they contain can be applied in the life of the believer. Let me give you just a portion of what it says concerning the First Commandment in Exodus 20:3, “You shall have no other gods before me.” This can be found in the Catechism in the section called “LORD’S DAY 34″. Here I am told that I must learn to “avoid and flee from all idolatry, sorcery, soothsaying, superstition, invocation of saints or any other creatures; and that I rightly acknowledge the only true God, trust in him alone; with humility and patience submit to him; expect all good things from him only; and love, fear, and honor him with my whole heart; so that I renounce and forsake all creatures, rather than commit even the least thing contrary to his will. Idolatry is to contrive or place our trust in any other object, instead of, or besides, the one true God who has revealed himself in his Word.”
May the Lord encourage you today through His Word!
Pastor Scott Lee
