Saturday's message doesn't have to end on Saturday. This 5-day plan gives you an easy way to keep reflecting throughout the week with a daily reading, prayer prompt, and practical step to live it out.

Rules of Engagement - #1 No Other gods
Marc Giffin 4/11/2026

Day 1: Remember Your Rescue

Reading: Exodus 20:1-3

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:2-3)

Reflection: Before God ever gives a command, He reminds His people of His rescue. He's not a distant rule-maker—He's the personal God who freed them. Through Christ, God has rescued you from sin and death. Today, remember: His commands flow from love, not control.

Prayer: "Father, thank You for rescuing me. Just as You freed Israel from Egypt, You've freed me from the slavery of sin through Jesus. Help me remember that Your commands aren't restrictions—they're the path to life. Show me today what it means to put You first. Amen."

Action Item: Write down 2-3 specific ways God has rescued or provided for you. Keep this list visible this week as a reminder of His faithfulness.

Day 2: Identify Your "Other gods"

Reading: Jeremiah 2:11-13

"...for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water." (Jeremiah 2:13)

Reflection: We don't bow to golden calves, but we get creative with modern substitutes. Success, approval, comfort, control—even good things can become ultimate things. When anything other than God sits in first place, it becomes a broken cistern that can't hold water. What are you trusting in besides God?

Prayer: "Lord, search my heart. Reveal the things I've put before You—the comfort I cling to, the approval I chase, the control I grasp for. Forgive me for seeking satisfaction in broken cisterns. You alone are the fountain of living water. Help me drink from You first. Amen."

Action Item: Ask yourself: What do I think about most? What do I worry about losing? What drives my decisions? Write down one honest answer, then ask God to reclaim that space.

Day 3: Reorder Your Priorities

Reading: Matthew 6:25-33

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)

Reflection: Jesus doesn't say, "Try to fit God in somewhere." He says seek Him first. When God is at the center, everything else finds its proper place. But when other things come first, they collapse under the weight—they were never meant to carry what only God can.

Prayer: "Jesus, You call me to seek Your kingdom first. Yet I confess I often put other things ahead of You—my plans, my comfort, my reputation. Reorder my life around You. Help me trust that when You're first, everything else falls into place. Give me the courage to rearrange my priorities. Amen."

Action Item: Look at your calendar and bank statement from last month. What do they reveal about your actual priorities? Choose one practical change you'll make this week to put God first (e.g., morning prayer before checking your phone, giving before spending).

Day 4: Live Out Your Identity

Reading: 1 Peter 2:9-10

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9)

Reflection: You belong to God. Your identity isn't defined by your job, your relationships, your achievements, or your failures. You are His. And how you live as His people matters—it displays His character to a watching world. When you put Him first, your life becomes a proclamation of His goodness.

Prayer: "Father, thank You that I belong to You. I am chosen, holy, Yours. Help me live from that identity today. Let my choices, my words, and my actions reflect Your character. May others see Your goodness in how I live. Make me a living testimony of Your rescue and love. Amen."

Action Item: Identify one relationship or situation where you can display God's character today. How can your words or actions point others to His goodness? Be intentional about it.

Day 5: Love God With Everything

Reading: Mark 12:28-34

"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)

Reflection: Jesus sums up the first commandment with one word: love. Not half-hearted. Not divided. All of you. This isn't duty—it's devotion. God doesn't want a spot on your list; He wants the center of your heart. And when He has that, life is found.

Prayer: "Lord, I want to love You with everything—my heart, soul, mind, and strength. But I know I often hold back. I give You pieces instead of all. Fill me with Your Spirit so I can love You fully and freely. Let my whole life be an act of worship. You are worthy of my undivided heart. Amen."

Action Item: End this week by declaring your commitment. Write a simple prayer or statement to God affirming He is first in your life. Place it somewhere you'll see daily (mirror, phone wallpaper, journal). Return to it when other things compete for that space.

Closing Thought: The first commandment isn't about rules—it's about relationship. God isn't demanding worship because He's insecure; He's inviting you into the kind of life that only works when He's at the center. This week, let Him take His rightful place. Because what you put first... shapes everything else!

Every Sunday: Review your three names and pray for them

Every Week: Have at least one meaningful interaction with each person

Every Month: Look for an opportunity to invite one of them to church or a spiritual conversation

Remember: You're not responsible for outcomes—just obedience. Plant, Invite, Share, Love. God handles the growth.

"How can they hear without a proclaimer? And how can they preach unless they are sent?"

- Romans 10:14-15

Don't Forget...