Our World of Many gods

Jesus lived in a world with many false gods.  He lived in a world under Roman rule.  In it Caesar was considered the supreme god.  After Caesar, there seemed to be a god for everything - love, war, the sea, thunder, etc.  These gods had names - Diana, Apollo, Mercury, Neptune, Athena, Venus, etc. It was a world filled with false gods.

The reason early followers of Christ were persecuted and killed so often, is they refused to worship any other god, or even make a claim there was any god besides Christ.  They would simply be asked to say - "Caesar is lord."  they would reply "Christ is Lord."  And they'd be killed instantly.  

Today, more people would say there is one God than in Jesus' time.  You don't even have to be a Christian to state this.  Agnostics say there is one supreme being.  Other religions adhere to one God - Judaism, Islam.  Even in a religion like Hinduism, which says there are many gods, they still say there is one supreme being who is the "main god."  And of course, as Christians we profess One God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We profess Christ as Lord.  So you'd think that in the world we live in, whether you're Christian or not, most people believe in one God.

Or do they?  Maybe people, even followers of Christ who say they believe in one God, have many gods in their lives.  They choose to worship these gods more than Christ as Lord.  What are these gods?  Money, power, relationships, success, career, and thrill seeking experiences to name a few.  There are other too - a spouse, a child, a marriage, a way of life, a reputation.  If you get down to it, people here and now worship their fair share of gods.

As a Christian, do we put any of them before Christ?  Is He Lord of our life, or is another god?  Jesus said:  "The Lord our God is One Lord.  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength."  Mark 12: 30 

That is a lot of love.  Do we love Christ that much?  If we don't, what is getting in our way?  

Our Lenten sermon series is:  "Last Days."  We're looking at the Last Days of Jesus' life before the cross and resurrection.  What He said and commanded of us in those days is crucial to our present and future days.  This Sunday, we'll look at His command to have One God as Lord and to love Him with all we have.  

If you have other gods, I hope Sunday will be your last day to do so.  I hope it will be your first to make Christ your Lord and to love Him with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.