Deuteronomy 6:13 Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.
At first reading, it’s easy for me to say that I would never follow other gods. However, looking at the definition of “god,” seeing how varied, how multifaceted the definition is, knowing how insidious the world’s desires can be, I can absolutely see why this caution is necessary.
Deuteronomy 6:14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you;
In a graduation speech, David Foster Wallace calls this “what you worship.” He cautions that if you aren’t careful, what you worship can eat you alive. And I think that idea is at the heart of today’s verses. God loves us so much. He knows that if we worship money, power, things, other gods, that it will cost us, it will affect our quality of life, and it will separate us even further from His love, grace, and compassion.
Deuteronomy 6:15a for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God…
Precious Savior, Thank You for Your fierce, merciful, compassionate love. Thank You that You want what is best for us, that You want us to be in easy communion with You because You know how rich that will make our lives. Help me to worship You alone. Draw me closer. Amen.
Deuteronomy 6:15b …and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land.
Have a blessed day.