It should be every Christian’s desire to love and honor Jesus. But how can we be in good standing with the Lord? How do we know if we love Him? Is loving Him seeking Him in prayer, reading the Bible, worshiping Him in song, or going to church? All of those things are wonderful and you will be able to grow in your love for Christ as you do them. However, Jesus teaches something very specific on how to love Him. He says, 5“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Through the Word of God, His commands are made evident to everyone that has an ear to hear. He desires that we don’t only know them but obey them. In doing so, we truly love Him for we respect His laws. Jesus also says, 6“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” I don’t know about you but to be God’s friend is my top priority. It is my desire for Him to know me personally. For this, it is a great privilege to obey His commandments. In this message, let’s focus on just one of His commandments, Commandment #2. It teaches that we are not to bow down to any idol. This includes praying or worshiping Mary, the Saints or any such thing. The second commandment says, 1“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image”, “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them”. 2Doing such acts are actually provoking God to anger against you. Giving worship to anything but God alone is wrong. This lifestyle will leave you walking against God instead of for Him. Would you rather follow God’s laws or man’s? When Jesus returns, only His followers will be saved. I encourage you all to read the Bible daily in order to understand God’s commandments and why it is so important to obey them.
Let this be the day that you begin your journey on the Lord’s path. If you are not familiar with the commandments of God, become familiar today. Know them and obey them. Learn to love God’s laws. In Psalm 119 it reads, 3“And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.” I pray that the heart of every believer is found a love for God’s laws. This all starts with making the Lord a priority. If your time is given to God in Bible Study and prayer often then His words will abide in your heart. It will no longer be a hardship to obey God but an honor to serve Him. The second commandment, 1“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image”, “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them”, like all the rest, are important for each of us to obey. If you currently are breaking this commandment by worshiping or praying to idols, then repent. No longer bow down to anything but God alone. If breaking this commandment is a family tradition than think of it this way. Would you rather be in good standing with your family or God. 4Would you rather be on His straight and narrow path to heaven or wide gate to everlasting destruction in hell? This is a life change but is necessary to be on the side of God. No need to fear judgement if you are the Lord’s friend.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, bring us all closer to You. Lead us away from the false doctrines in church’s today. Help us know what is Your will and what is man’s. I desire to always be on Your side. I want the same for everyone that wants to follow You. May the lost hear Your voice and come out of darkness. I love You. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Exodus 20:4-6 (KJV)
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
2Deuteronomy 4:23-25 (KJV)
23 Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the Lord thy God hath forbidden thee.
24 For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
25 When thou shalt beget children, and children’s children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the Lord thy God, to provoke him to anger.
3Psalm 119:47,48 (KJV)
47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
4Matthew 7:13,14 (KJV)
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
5John 14:12-15 (KJV)
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
6John 15:10-14 (KJV)
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.