John 10
HOW TO BE A GOD

If you are going to be a god, act like one.

Speaking to the Jews, Jesus reminded them that God wrote in their law, “I said, you are gods.” (John 10 v 34). God called the rulers of his people, gods. They had been given power and authority over God’s people to look after them on behalf of God himself. They were the people the rest of us would look to when we needed to see or to hear from God.

Jesus took the quote he used from Psalm 82, which gives us a picture of God presiding over a board meeting with his executive council. “God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgement.” (Psalm 82 v 1). But God’s councilors were not doing their job properly. Listen to what God says as he addresses his councilors: 

“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Give justice to the weak and fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” (Psalm 82 v 2 – 4). Those were the things they were not doing. They were not acting like the gods they were supposed to be. They were not representing God like they should have been doing. They were acting like selfish, power hungry and evil men.

Because they were not acting as they should, God decreed, “I said, ‘You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.’” (Psalm 82 v 7).

God’s councilors were not living up to their responsibilities, so their high position as ‘gods’ was to be taken away and they were to die as men in the carnage of battle.

We too can be gods. How do we become gods? Don’t do what they did. Instead, listen to the Most High God, judge justly, be impartial, care for others – especially for the weak, and rescue those who are oppressed by wickedness. When we act like gods, we will not die like men. When we act like gods, we will live with God for ever.

May our actions lead others to God this week.

With love in our Lord,
Robert