But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. - Matthew 5:44-48 (ESV)

In a post on the Thought Catalog, Lindsay Zdep wrote "You know that person who seems to have it all? Well, that's me. I am, and always was, considered the "golden child" and am living a life that many would consider "perfect." A dream filled with a tree that grows money, the ability to eat cake and not get fat, and relaxing afternoons lying on a hammock. An existence where nothing goes wrong and I seem to float effortlessly through it all."  She goes on to say that's not true at all and explores things she's learned being labeled "perfect."  My bet is that some of us fall into this category of having most things feel/look perfect and maybe "seem to float effortlessly through it all" and others torture ourselves for not being perfect, or at least "good enough."

He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it. Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before it. - Isaiah 44:14-15 (ESV)

We are monotheist. We believe and confess that there is one God. That's one of the things that makes Judeo-Christian belief unique both historically and among world religions.  We almost take it for granted that people would believe otherwise.  

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:

    "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
    the whole earth is full of his glory!" - Isaiah 6:1-3 (ESV)

Isaiah 6 is written in a time of uncertainity and unrest. Israel had settled leadership in King Uzziah. He had led them into a era of prolonged prosperity, but now he was dead. What would happen next? Who would rule? How would they guide the nation? Would the enemies of Israel take advantage of this moment of weakness and confusion?

The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? - Psalm 113:4-6 (ESV)

Zeus, Apollos, Hercules, and Aphrodite are a few of the names I remember. Reading Greek and Roman myths are a mainstay in most educations in the humanities. This pantheon of gods are a heavenly soap opera that's used to explain the world around us and the difficulties in it. These immortals suffered from all the human foibles, just super-sized.

And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him.  - Acts 17:26-27 (ESV)

The world is one of design. On both the micro and macro levels there is a pattern and imprint that can be see of a Divine hand. It's hard to miss, but people do. We do.  When we dismiss this critical idea it skews not only our understanding about God but about ourselves, the people around us, and the world itself.

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who addressed the words of this song to the LORD on the day when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said:

    I love you, O LORD, my strength.
    The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
        my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
        my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
    I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
        and I am saved from my enemies. - Psalm 18:1-3 (ESV)