From the CANON on this blog:
How the
worship of Baal breaks the Ten Commandments
1. Thou
shalt have no other gods before me.
Tyrants do not believe in the true God. Their god is Tyranny. They cause their subjects to worship and be
dependent on them, rather than God.
10. Thou shalt not covet.
This is what causes Tyrants and their
subjects to violate all the other commandments.
The Tyrants covet, and their resulting actions cause their subjects to
covet.
Solutions
1. God
is omnipotent and therefore can solve any problem. He may choose to use the solutions listed
below, but he often provides in ways you could have never imagined. The poor should cry out to God for help,
rather than depending on Baal.
From today’s scripture reading:
For my people have done two evil things: They have forsaken me
-- the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked
cisterns that can hold no water at all!"
Jeremiah
2:13 (NLT)
From today’s devotional:
For us who
believe in Jesus, contentment should be governed by inner attitude and the
decisions we make rather than by external circumstances. Because Paul had
learned this secret, he was able to experience joy and peace in any kind of
situation—whether he was surrounded by friends or isolated in a Roman prison;
whether he had plenty or was in great need.
The apostle understood what it meant to live in Christ and
to have Christ living in him ("I am the true
vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that doesn't
produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will
produce even more. You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the
message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch
cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful
apart from me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in
me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do
nothing. Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and
withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you stay
joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and
it will be granted! My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great
glory to my Father. I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in
my love.” John 15:1-9;
“But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives,
he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict
with the law.” Galatians
5:22-23). He had made a simple but profound faith decision to draw
his life from the Lord and, as a result, had the calm assurance that what he
possessed inside could never be stolen. He was confident in his identity as a
child of the Almighty, with full access to the abundant life Jesus offers.
I want to
challenge you—this week, when something threatens to steal your contentment,
choose to draw from God; decide to stop drawing from other sources and trying
to be in control. When you find yourself becoming flustered, anxious, or angry,
stop and say, “Lord, You are my source, and I draw from You the capacity to be
kind. I draw from You the forgiveness I need to extend right now. I draw from
You the love I need to express.” This decision is a matter of simple trust.
Watch and
see how God will quiet your spirit and provide confidence when you draw only
from Him as your source. You’ll be surprised at your own attitude: When you
respond from within—rather than from the flesh—Jesus will give you the ability
to respond as He would.
Commentary:
Contentment
should be governed by inner attitude and the decisions we make rather than by
external circumstances. We should be
able to experience joy and peace in any kind of situation—whether we have
plenty or are in great need.
I want to
challenge you—this week, when something threatens to steal your contentment,
choose to draw from God; decide to stop drawing from other sources. Watch and see how God will quiet your spirit
and provide confidence when you draw only from Him as your source. You’ll be
surprised at your own attitude: When you respond from within—rather than from
the flesh—Jesus will give you the ability to respond as He would.
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