Week 28: What is my attitude toward God?
We said last week that the Ten Commandments are God’s rules for right and wrong behavior. Correct behavior must start with the right attitude. Before we examine the Ten Commandments one-by-one, let’s look at how the first four commands should shape our attitude toward God.
Be ready to read the following passage:
Let’s start it.
How many of the Ten Commandments can your family name from memory? Here’s a helpful tip: the first four are about our relationship with God, and the last six are about relationships with other people. Go!
Let’s learn it.
How did you do? Check your accuracy by asking one member of the family to read Exodus 20:1-7.
The first four commandments teach us how to have a proper view of God so we can have a loving relationship with Him and with other people. How you respond to those commands reveals what you really think and feel about God. Let’s take a quick attitude check based on the first four commandments.
First, do you believe there is only one God – the God of Scripture? Or do you believe there are many ways to Heaven? Do you trust God completely, or do you find trusting Him difficult because He cannot be physically seen or touched? Are you careful about how you use God’s name, or do you sometimes say His name in an irreverent or silly way? Finally, do you reserve one day a week to rest and focus on the Lord, or do you go on with your regular activities on the Lord’s Day?
What did you learn about your attitude toward the Lord based on how you answered those questions? The Lord God Almighty is the one true God. Since He alone is worthy to be worshiped, His name and His day deserve our respect. When you give the God of Scripture the highest place in your life, then you will think and behave in ways that please Him. The ultimate result will be a loving, personal relationship with the Creator of the universe!
Let’s discuss it.
- As a family, make a list of right and wrong attitudes toward God.
- Which right attitude do you need to work on the most?
- How can you guard your thoughts and attitude toward God?
Let’s do it.
Even as devoted followers of Christ, we sometimes let worldly things seep into our thinking. When that happens, our view of God slowly begins to change from what the Bible says. You might not notice when your attitude starts to be swayed by how people who don’t know Jesus think, so you have to intentionally guard your heart and mind. Ask God to help you recognize wrong views of Him on television, at school, or in conversations with friends. Guard your thinking by reading the truth about God each day from His Word. Remember, right behavior starts with the right attitude.