WORSHIP THE TRUE GOD
What comes to mind when you hear “The Ten Commandments”? We should not treat them merely as a list of do’s and don’ts, but as divinely given moral imperatives rooted in the nature and goodness of God. In fact, many laws and constitutions around the world reflect the Judeo-Christian ethics found in these commandments.
The Ten Commandments were given to guide, protect, and bless us. They reveal our sinfulness, point us to a Savior, unveil God’s character and desires, and teach us how to worship and please Him. The first four commandments address our relationship with God, while the remaining six flow out of that relationship and guide how we relate to others.
The first two commandments instruct us to worship the true God. By nature, we all worship something. We must learn to worship God rightly because it shapes our entire future. God created us for this purpose (Isaiah 43:7). As Timothy Keller once said, “If you don’t worship God, you will worship something—and whatever you worship will shape your life.”
The Ten Commandments begin with who God is (Exodus 20:1–2). God first saved His people before giving them the law. The commandments were never meant to be a means of salvation; rather, we are redeemed in order to obey. We must first experience God’s salvation by grace through faith.
The Israelites were miraculously delivered by God’s power—greater than Pharaoh, his army, and all the false gods of Egypt. You cannot truly worship God if you do not know Him or have not experienced what He can do. Worship reflects our intimacy with God—knowing Him and loving Him with all we are.
God commands, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). Worship is our proper response to who God is, what He has done, and what He continues to do. If we have not experienced the reality of His goodness, our worship will be shallow. True worship begins with knowing God as He is revealed in Scripture—not as we imagine Him to be. He is the One who sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins and redeem us.
How should we worship God?
WORSHIP GOD EXCLUSIVELY
The Lord our Creator is worthy to “receive glory, honor, and power” (Revelation 4:11), for He created all things. No idol made by human hands can ever compare to who God truly is (Isaiah 40:18–19). There must be no other gods before Him.
We become what we worship. What we worship ultimately receives our time, energy, sacrifice, and obedience.
Scripture tells us that the Israelites mixed the customs of other nations with their worship (2 Kings 17:33). This is called syncretism—worshiping God alongside something or someone else. Is there anything in your life competing with God?
True worship must be exclusive. Because Jesus gave His all for us, we are called to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37–38). Christianity is a relationship of love, not merely a religion to perform. No one can serve two masters—worship Him alone (Matthew 6:24).
If God is truly first in your life, He will be first in your finances, interests, relationships, schedule—even in your struggles. God declares that He will not share His glory with another, including idols (Isaiah 42:8).
The second commandment forbids the worship of idols (Exodus 20:4–5). God describes Himself as a jealous God, emphasizing how seriously He takes idolatry. Its effects can influence future generations. Yet He also promises blessing to those who love Him and keep His commandments (v.6).
WORSHIP GOD RIGHTLY
God is seeking “true worshipers” who will worship Him “in spirit and truth” (John 4:23–24). We are not to create images to represent Him. Wrong worship happens when we reduce God to something physical or reshape Him according to our preferences.
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees as hypocrites (Mark 7:6–8, 13) because they honored God with their lips while their hearts were far from Him. Elevating tradition above God’s commands leads to empty worship.
We must know God through His Word. Our allegiance must be to Him—not to tradition or religion.
The Israelites struggled with this in the wilderness. They asked Aaron to make a god for them (Exodus 32). He created a golden calf, and they worshiped it as the god who delivered them from Egypt. This deeply angered God because they had “corrupted themselves” (v.7), exchanging the true God for an idol.
Even today, many people create their own version of God—one who never confronts, never judges, and only affirms. But this is not the God revealed in the Bible.
Through the prophet Amos, God rejected empty worship and called for justice and righteousness (Amos 5:21–24). The Israelites were also worshiping other gods like Sikkuth and Kiyyun (Amos 5:25–26).
At the root of humanity’s sin is this: worshiping creation instead of the Creator (Romans 1:25). As a result, God gave them over to their sinful desires (Romans 1:24, 26, 28). Sin, when left unchecked, will consume the heart.
God calls us to “repent and turn away from your idols” (Ezekiel 14:3–6). These idols may not always be physical—they can be hidden in our hearts:
Happiness: “I will be happy if only…”
Fear of loss: “If this is taken away, life is meaningless…”
Anger: “What makes me deeply angry?”
A true worshiper is centered on God, not self. Place God on the throne of your life and give Him what only He deserves—your worship.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Why is it important to worship God alone? What happens when He is not first in our lives?.
Are you worshiping God on His terms or your own? How can you tell if your worship truly honors Him?
What needs to change in your life for God to truly be first?
PRAY CARE SHARE IN ACTION
Pray for worshippers of the one true God to multiply here in our country and around the world. Show genuine care to those imprisoned in man-made religious traditions by sharing the gospel that sets them free.