And God spoke all these words:
see Exodus 20
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt,
out of the land of slavery.
You shall have no other gods before me.”
VALENTINE’S DAY might be when we expect to hear songs like the Platters’ 1955 Doo-wop hit, Only You (And You Alone). The exclusive romance between two mutually chosen partners, professed and summed up in the first two words of the lyrics – the thrilling love, loyalty, fidelity, depth of passion, etc. – is what people celebrate every February 14th.
What a perfect day to launch a series on the TEN COMMANDMENTS.
WUH…?
Equating people’s romantic love to religious devotion and love of God is creepy and weird. So I am not doing that. But there is a Valentine’s Day-Only You-Ten Commandments connection: after rescuing the chosen children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Lord speaks the famous “ten words” to Israel. The first commandment is a bold, clear, boundary setting rule, ultimately about the exclusive relationship God desires with his chosen (see the connection now?). “You shall have no other,” is not simply to be read (or disdainfully rejected), as a petty demand from an emotionally immature, temperamental God. Rather, it is spoken by our Creator, Father, Redeemer, closing a gap, reconciling a relationship, once broken in rebellion, always vulnerable. Jesus knew this in the desert of temptation. What about you and me?
Young Church
- Godly Play: The Mystery of Easter
- Big Kids: ZOOM Meeting at 11:20 am on Sunday
Chaos or Community
Message from ZOOM Church, January 17th, 2021
BEYOND SUNDAY
- Four separate Small Groups meet via ZOOM on a regular basis – “Guys Group”; “North End Moms”; “Crown Hill”; “POD-19”; email office@emmausroad.net for info
- New Horizons Dinner – served every first Wednesday; email office@emmausroad.net for info.