Aug 10 - Psalm 81:8

Listen to me, O my people,

while I give you stern warnings.

O Israel, if you would

only listen to me!

Psalm 81:8

Children should obey their parents instantly and instinctively. 

If a parent says, "Jump," a child ought to say, "How high?" It's not a proud, angry, drill sergeant "Jump" and "How high?" 

A parent's cry can be firm, "Jump!" but it ought to be purposeful and loving: "Because there's a snake." 

And a child's response ought to be trusting and immediate. "If you say, 'Jump,' I'll believe that there's a reason," the little one says, feet dangling in the sky. 

Psalm 81 reflects God's warning. And longing. God is longing -- mainly lamenting -- that his children too rarely listen to his warnings. That's verse 8. 

And what is the verse 9 warning from the Heavenly Father? "You must never have a foreign god; you must not bow down before a false god."

Do you hear what God is saying? He's telling his people, "Beware of the snake."

 

Please think about this: If there is only one true God, then what is every false god?

 

You are either worshiping God or "not god." And "not god" is either worshiping ... 

 

·         man-made philosophy (which can't save us because it is man-made), 

·         self (as a false priority and inadequate god), or

·         a counterfeit god (any "spirit" with "power" besides God himself is Satan or one of his minions ... indeed, the snake himself).

 

Now think about this: If you're Satan, does it matter if someone is worshiping darkness directly ... or worshiping self or man or any other thing that pulls you away from God? 

 

God says, "Jump." He says, "There's a snake." The snake wants to pull you from God. Therefore, "you must never ... bow down before a false god."

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who wants to jump

so high when God says jump

that I can dunk a basketball

with my pinky toes