True worship demands exclusive devotion

By Sam Kputu
You must worship no other gods, for the LORD, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you” – Exodus 34:14, NLT
God, Jealous?  We humans  think of jealousy as a vice and not a virtue. It connotes anything from insecurity to covetousness. Yet jealousy in a love relationship is a virtue; it is that longing and desire to have a beloved one’s exclusive loyalty, devotion and affection.
“I am the LORD your God…”You shall have no other gods before me. ” – Exodus 20:1-5, NIV
Fear the Lord your God, serve him only… ” – Deuteronomy 6:13, NIV
God’s demand on His people is that we give Him exclusive devotion. For fidelity is key to any love relationship and covenant. True worship therefore demands that we shun anything that competes with God in our lives. That will be infidelity and idolatry.
▪ Kputu is the International Director of indigenous missions agency CAPRO, and lives in Lagos.