Scripture:
“You shall have no other gods before me.” — Exodus 20:3
Reflection:
Exodus 20:3 is the first of the Ten Commandments, given by God to the people of Israel shortly after He delivered them from slavery in Egypt. It was not just a rule—it was a radical declaration of relational loyalty. The Israelites had lived for generations under a regime that deified human power and worshiped many gods. Surrounded by cultures that bowed to idols of fertility, war, and prosperity, God’s people were invited into something countercultural: wholehearted trust in the One who had saved them.
To have “no other gods before Me” meant that their ultimate allegiance, dependence, and hope were to rest in the Lord alone. It was God saying, “Let Me be the One you look to—not just when you’re in need, but when you’re afraid, when you’re tempted, when you’re hurting.”
This context matters because the heart of sin has always been about misplaced trust. And when we find ourselves stuck in patterns of sin—like compulsive sexual behaviors, pornography, or self-medicating through fantasy—our impulse may be to focus only on changing the behavior. We white-knuckle our way through the urges. We feel shame when we fail. We resolve to “try harder” next time. But what if the behavior isn’t the core problem? What if it’s a symptom of something deeper?
Tim Keller once preached that our sinful behaviors often reveal a functional savior—a false belief in something other than Christ to bring relief, comfort, or fulfillment. That’s why even the most persistent efforts to “just stop sinning” often lead to exhaustion or despair. The problem is not just what we’re doing—it’s what we’re trusting.
Perhaps we are looking to beauty to make us feel valuable. Perhaps we believe that being desired makes us worthy of love. Perhaps we act from a hidden conviction that freedom comes through unbounded pleasure or control. These aren’t just bad habits—they’re misplaced faith. And only when we gently name them can we begin to reorient our hearts.
The invitation isn’t to strive harder but to surrender deeper. Not to earn God’s approval but to believe again—maybe for the first time in a while—that Jesus alone is enough. He alone satisfies. He alone can carry the weight of our longings.
Prayer:
Jesus,
I confess that I’ve looked to other things to save me. I’ve tried to manage my pain through what is familiar, even when it leaves me empty. I’ve acted out of fear, longing, and loneliness—and I haven’t always known how to come to You first. But You are not ashamed of me. You welcome me still. Help me see the deeper beliefs behind my behaviors. Help me trust You to meet me there. Not just to change me, but to free me from the lie that anything else can save. Amen.
Practice:
- Gently reflect: What do I believe this behavior gives me? What does it promise to fix or fulfill?
- Read Exodus 20:3 and consider what it would mean to let God be your only Savior—not just in theory, but in how you deal with stress, loneliness, or fear.
- Write down one false belief you want to release today, and one truth about Jesus you want to hold in its place.
