Day 3 of 90: Choose ye this day whom you will serve, GOD or Scandal

God or SCANDAL? by Shaun Saunders 
Opening Song: He wants it all by Forever Jones

Closing Song: Free by Kierra Sheard

"Scandal" has become one of the most entertaining shows on television. Its key protagonist, Olivia Pope, is in love with her boss, the President of the United States (President Grant), and, oh, by the way…he’s married with children to an interestingly duplicitous character by the name of Millie. Each week, Shonda Rhimes captivates her growing audience of 8.8 million viewers with a quick-paced, suspense narrative that promises to leave you on the edge of your seat. I know many Christians who take issue with this show because of the, well, scandalous nature of its characters. But I must admit, I am an avid Scandal fan. I, like many others, look forward to Thursday nights because I can enjoy good writing, suspenseful plots, and an overall great cast of actors and actresses.

Now. Let’s fast forward. On April 1, 2014, I was prompted by the Spirit to consecrate my life for 90 days. The rigorous challenge included a 15-20 min devotional at 5am and 10pm, fasting once per week, volunteering at a local shelter, eating healthily and working out 4 times/week, and only saying that which is good, true, and positive. I posted, for accountability purposes, my plan of action; and asked anyone who felt like joining me, to do so. What I didn’t expect was over 200 emails saying, “I want to join this 90 day challenge,” and the journey began!

The first few days were great, until I realized that Thursday night at 10pm was Scandal night. I immediately began to get nervous—not because I was so addicted to Scandal that I couldn't let it go (thank God for DVR) but because I knew some of my friends would have a hard time giving up their 10:00 guilty pleasure for 20 minutes of time with God.

But then it occurred to me: anything that we put before God, no matter how innocent or entertaining, is an idol. As I rose at 5am to prepare our daily devotional that morning, the Spirit asked me this simple question: are you committed to anything more than you are committed to Me? Of course, my natural response was “no, I love God more than anything.” But then he said, "PROVE IT." And the way to prove our commitment is when we choose to give up that which we enjoy, for that which we need.

As I studied the 10 commandments that morning, I realized how idolatry can creep into anything we do, if we allow it to. Read Deuteronomy 5 today, and when you do, you will bump into the Decalogue, or, in simple terms, the 10 commandments. These were the words God inscribed onto tablets while Moses prayed on Mt. Sinai. But further research reveals that there were actually 613 Commandments in total. Did you know that? Did you know that the children of Israel were given 365 negative commandments and 248 positive commandments?

The purpose of these commandments is quite profound. You see, the 365 negative commandments (thou shalt not’s) were intended to help the Israelites to grow closer to God every day. In a solar year, there are 365 days in a year, so God provided 1 commandment for each day. The 248 positive commandments (thou shalt’s) represented the number of bones and main organs in the human body. God is so BRILLIANT! He orchestrated positive commandments to keep our temple holy, and negative commandments to keep our day holy. 613 commandments in total. And all so that we can stay in covenant with him.

What an amazing God we serve! But before I take a lap around the park, let me break down the first two commandments of the 10! If you keep reading, I know it will bless you. The first one: “you shall have no other gods before me.” Now, if you lived in Egypt, this commandment was almost impossible to follow. Egypt was a polytheistic world. In Egypt, everything was a god! Just like when I went to India, God’s were on top of houses, sitting in the middle of the street. Gods were made into golden images. Gods were animals, statues, and even food! So when God said “you can’t have other gods before me,” he wasn’t saying “I am first, and they can be second.” He was saying “I am the only GOD that is, and no other God can stand next to, behind, or around me!" The first commandment, then, was about the cultural gods of the day that tried to seep into their worship--just like the gods of America that try to seep into ours: success, greed, beauty, fame, fashion, and yea..entertainment.

The second commandment was even deeper: you shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven or on earth. Check this out: the first commandment was about having other gods. The second commandment was about MAKING a god out of something that was never meant to be a god. You know, like our 6 figure salary. Or our beautiful new car. Or, that innocent little baby God blessed you with, or your favorite television series…like Scandal. ‪#‎ouch‬

The second commandment, if you ask me, is far more dangerous than the first because anything can be easily turned into a god if you place IT before HIM. This is why, the 90 challenge became real to some of us who watch scandal at 10pm! God told me loud and clear: CHOOSE YE THIS DAY, WHOM YOU WILL SERVE…GOD or SCANDAL.

I know some of you don't watch Scandal, but all of us have something that is distracting us from God. So as you pray about getting closer to God, be honest with yourself. Be aware of the things that can become an idol, and prove to God that it won't win over him. If you sacrifice for it and if you pursue it more than your relationship with Christ, then it could be competing for first place. Prove to God over the next 90 days who is Lord!

SCRIPTURES to REFLECT on:
Deuteronomy 5:6-9 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God…

#jointhe90daychallenge
#chooseGod #chooselife
#thiswillchangeyourlife