Walking with Jesus: No Other Gods—Including Ourselves

Walking with Jesus: No Other Gods—Including Ourselves

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” — Exodus 20:3 (KJV)

Last night, a thought settled on my heart: God’s command to have no other gods before Him includes us. Our desires, our opinions, our feelings, and even our plans for ministry must bow before Him. We cannot confess that Jesus is Lord while insisting that we remain in charge.

It is easy to recognize an idol sitting on a shelf. It takes more honesty to recognize the place we have given ourselves in our own hearts. Self can become an idol whenever we make our preferences the authority, measure God’s goodness by whether we get our way, or expect His Word to agree with us before we will obey it.

And sometimes, we dress that up in spiritual language.

We speak of “manifesting” God’s presence as though His power were ours to direct. But God is sovereign. His presence cannot be manufactured by our emotions, summoned by a formula, or placed under our control. We depend upon Him for every breath; He does not depend upon us to make Him present.

What we can do is surrender. Through the work of His Holy Spirit, God makes His character and love visible in lives yielded to Him. Our obedience does not purchase His presence or earn His grace. It is our response to the grace we have already received.

John the Baptist understood his place when he said, *“He must increase, but I must decrease”* (John 3:30, KJV). His calling was to point people to Christ. That is our calling, too.

People should be able to see something of Jesus in the way we forgive, tell the truth, serve without recognition, and love those who have nothing to offer us in return. A surrendered life gives others reason to look beyond us to the Savior we serve.

That surrender becomes especially real when obedience costs us something. It may mean releasing an offense we have held for years, admitting that we were wrong, or accepting an assignment that receives little attention. We discover how tightly we hold the reins when God asks us to let go.

Be wary of those who teach that we are “little gods.” Being created in God’s image does not make us gods, and being indwelt by His Spirit does not give us His sovereignty. We are His children, dependent upon His grace and subject to His authority. Any teaching that elevates us toward God’s throne should send us back to His Word. Jesus taught us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. There is no room in that calling for making a god of ourselves.

I need this reminder myself. Years of faith and ministry do not remove the daily need to bow before the Lord. Every day brings another opportunity to pray, “Father, Your will be done,” and then live as though we mean it.

God’s command leaves no room for exceptions: no other gods before Him—including the person looking back at us in the mirror.

Father, search my heart and reveal where I have placed myself before You.

Forgive me for asking You to bless what I have refused to surrender.

By Your Spirit, teach me to obey Your Word, trust Your wisdom, and serve with humility. May others see the love and character of Jesus through the way I live. You alone are God. Help me live in faithful surrender to You.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

The Lord be with you.

In His love

ray