"You shall not steal." Exodus 20:15
Yet another concise, to the point directive from God. What I love about God is that there's no ambiguity here. That's it. No stealing. Enough said.
Or is it? This is another commandment where we Christians can feel like we can automatically cross this off our list. Of course we wouldn't steal. Number one, God says so. Number two, how embarrassing it would be if we would get caught. And number three, I'd never make it in prison. I bruise too easily!
How funny and easily those thoughts can come to us. Lots of adults have stories about how they learned their lessons about stealing as children. They stole a piece of candy at the drugstore, and had to take it back and look the owner in the eye and tell them what they did. That's all it took to not steal again.
So ok, let's not focus on stealing stuff. Let's talk about other ways we may be allowing theft to creep into our lives. Here are some examples from the book, "The Liberating Law:"
-You go out to lunch with friends and have such a good time that you stay an extra 30 minutes past your designated lunch time.
-Last summer you borrowed your neighbor's electric hedge trimmer and never returned it. In fact, you have no plans to return it.
-You had some unexpected medical expenses this month and decide not to pay your tithe so that you can pay these bills.
-It's such a gorgeous day that you decide you'd rather go fishing than go to work. So you call your boss, say you're sick, and head for the lake.
Honoring God means adhering to the spirit, not just the letter of the law. We've all done some of the things mentioned above. We've probably done it and not thought twice about it! But as we examine how the Ten Commandments are designed to enhance our love for God, we must think twice. We must find any and all ways to show our absolute honesty in the things that we do. As Christians, we are called to a higher standard! In Romans chapter 2, verses 12-13, The Message version says, "If you sin without knowing what you're doing, God takes that into account. But if you sin knowing full well what you're doing, that's a different story entirely. Merely hearing God's law is a waste of your time if you don't do what he commands. Doing, not hearing, is what makes the difference with God."
Now that we have heard the truth, we must DO the truth. We MUST do what He commands in order to receive all He has for us. Look at your life, closely. Are you robbing God? If so . . . where? This is a tough pill to swallow, but not only for our sake, but those who look at us, we must do so!
Before I leave you tonight (sorry for the late post, by the way), I felt like sharing a beautiful piece of scripture from Isaiah 52:
7 How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
"Your God reigns!"
8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
together they shout for joy.
When the LORD returns to Zion,
they will see it with their own eyes.
9 Burst into songs of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the LORD has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
What is Adultery?
"You shall not commit adultery." Exodus 20:14
What is adultery? Random House Dictionary defines it as "voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than his or her lawful spouse." Yet Jesus defined it even more concretely: "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:26-28. Don't think that this is just a man looking at woman thing - women can do it too! Adultery is an equal opportunity sin.
As we have stated over and over again, the purpose of this commandment is love. The consequence of this commandment is love. The problem with this commandment begins when our love is misplaced. Did you know that there are many kinds of affairs in a marriage? Basically, anything that takes the place of your spouse - anything that occupies that space in your heart that God designed for the man or woman you committed to - is an affair. The Amplified Bible says in Ephesians 5:3: "But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity (of lustful, rich, wasteful living) or greediness must not even be named among you, as is fitting and proper among saints (God's consecrated people)."
There are many things that can cause lustful, rich, wasteful living or greediness. For example?? How about career? Sports? Friendships? There are so many things that, if we are not guarding our hearts and our relationships with ferocity, can become major problems. When was the last time your spouse knew - really knew - that they were worth guarding? When was the last time you vowed that nothing and no one would come between you? More specifically, when was the last time you made a choice to put your spouse first, not last in a long line?
With kids, work, church, activities, it's so easy to begin to take our spouses for granted. That's all the room Satan needs to make a move on our families and destroy them. John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Absolutely no good comes from Satan; things that feel good at the moment wreak a lifetime of destruction if we are not listening to God and following His ways! (say amen, somebody!)
Get rid of ANYTHING in your life that compromises your relationship. According to Adam Clarke, author of The Holy Bible with a Commentary, "Not only is adultery forbidden here(in Exodus 20:14), but also fornication and all kinds of mental and sensual uncleanness. All impure books, songs, pictures, etc., which tend to inflame and debauch the mind are against this law." Don't walk the dangerous line close to sin to see how close you can get. Make a stand for purity - in your life, in your marriage, in your relationship with God!
Maybe you are stuck in an unloving marriage relationship right now. Remember the first commandment, when I said that often we make the mistake of feeling like we are doing the right thing by putting God first on our priority list? The truth is, He doesn't want to be on the list, He wants to be the list! When you don't feel like loving your spouse, remember the list: Serve Jesus by honoring your spouse. It's not about your spouse - it's about God! Pray - fall on your face before God, beg Him, weep before Him, BEG Him to renew the love you once felt! If you've never felt love? Beg God to give it to you now! Tell Him that you want to honor Him with your marriage relationship. Ask Him for forgiveness, and affirm to Him your desire to do this right!
Do you think that there's nothing left, nothing to fight for, nothing in this relationship anymore? Do you feel like your marriage is meaningless? It's not - IT MEANS EVERYTHING! It's NOT nothing, and your marriage is the most important earthly relationship in your life. God protects you and your family by instructing you to honor your marriage. It's not a suggestion, it's a command - for you, and for the future generations of your family.
Come one, somebody say Amen!!
What is adultery? Random House Dictionary defines it as "voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than his or her lawful spouse." Yet Jesus defined it even more concretely: "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:26-28. Don't think that this is just a man looking at woman thing - women can do it too! Adultery is an equal opportunity sin.
As we have stated over and over again, the purpose of this commandment is love. The consequence of this commandment is love. The problem with this commandment begins when our love is misplaced. Did you know that there are many kinds of affairs in a marriage? Basically, anything that takes the place of your spouse - anything that occupies that space in your heart that God designed for the man or woman you committed to - is an affair. The Amplified Bible says in Ephesians 5:3: "But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity (of lustful, rich, wasteful living) or greediness must not even be named among you, as is fitting and proper among saints (God's consecrated people)."
There are many things that can cause lustful, rich, wasteful living or greediness. For example?? How about career? Sports? Friendships? There are so many things that, if we are not guarding our hearts and our relationships with ferocity, can become major problems. When was the last time your spouse knew - really knew - that they were worth guarding? When was the last time you vowed that nothing and no one would come between you? More specifically, when was the last time you made a choice to put your spouse first, not last in a long line?
With kids, work, church, activities, it's so easy to begin to take our spouses for granted. That's all the room Satan needs to make a move on our families and destroy them. John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Absolutely no good comes from Satan; things that feel good at the moment wreak a lifetime of destruction if we are not listening to God and following His ways! (say amen, somebody!)
Get rid of ANYTHING in your life that compromises your relationship. According to Adam Clarke, author of The Holy Bible with a Commentary, "Not only is adultery forbidden here(in Exodus 20:14), but also fornication and all kinds of mental and sensual uncleanness. All impure books, songs, pictures, etc., which tend to inflame and debauch the mind are against this law." Don't walk the dangerous line close to sin to see how close you can get. Make a stand for purity - in your life, in your marriage, in your relationship with God!
Maybe you are stuck in an unloving marriage relationship right now. Remember the first commandment, when I said that often we make the mistake of feeling like we are doing the right thing by putting God first on our priority list? The truth is, He doesn't want to be on the list, He wants to be the list! When you don't feel like loving your spouse, remember the list: Serve Jesus by honoring your spouse. It's not about your spouse - it's about God! Pray - fall on your face before God, beg Him, weep before Him, BEG Him to renew the love you once felt! If you've never felt love? Beg God to give it to you now! Tell Him that you want to honor Him with your marriage relationship. Ask Him for forgiveness, and affirm to Him your desire to do this right!
Do you think that there's nothing left, nothing to fight for, nothing in this relationship anymore? Do you feel like your marriage is meaningless? It's not - IT MEANS EVERYTHING! It's NOT nothing, and your marriage is the most important earthly relationship in your life. God protects you and your family by instructing you to honor your marriage. It's not a suggestion, it's a command - for you, and for the future generations of your family.
Come one, somebody say Amen!!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The Sixth Sense
"You shall not murder." Exodus 20:13
I love how these next few commandments are so direct, to the point. No promises of a good life; rather, it's more of a "just do it" kind of attitude from God. This seems so black and white, doesn't it? But today's sinful world has managed to make even murder wishy washy and all kinds of shades of grey.
I assume if you are reading this blog, you are a Christian. And if you are a Christian, I assume (although I'm not sure I should) that you are pro-life. I believe that life begins at conception. I believe that because the Bible says so. We all know the wonderful verse in Psalms 139: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." But did you know those words, that attitude, is scattered throughout the Bible? Look at Job 10:10-12: "Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese, clothe me with skin and flesh and knit me together with bones and sinews? You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit." Therefore if we are Christians, and we believe that the Bible is wholly true, we cannot for a moment doubt that life begins at conception.
Nor can we doubt that only God can choose the time of our death. Ecclesiastes 3:2 says there is "a time to be born and a time to die." It is God who saves us from death or allows death to take us. Job is full of those examples - he was urged to beg God for death, and did in fact do so, but God was not ready for that yet. Therefore if we are Christians, and we believe that the Bible is wholly true, we cannot for a moment doubt that it is not our decision to take life from another, or even from ourselves.
Seems as if life, murder, death are pretty clear cut for Christians then, huh? But have you ever thought about reckless behavior being a sin? Speeding, distracted or impaired driving, road rage - those are all behaviors that at times could push us to the brink of death, or create someone else's death because of our actions. So when is the behavior wrong - when death occurs, or when life is put in danger?
OUCH!! Lead foot, right here. Texting while driving? Uh-huh. Road rage? I'd prefer not to answer that question. As I'm writing, and thinking over things, I'm realizing how many times I have put myself and others in danger by not being in control of my behavior while driving.
It's not just driving obstacles that cause danger. Have you thought about the angry words you have spoken before you stormed away from someone? Did you kill someone's feelings, someone's love, or worse - someone's desire for Christ because of your selfish and sinful actions and attitudes?
Boy oh boy. Not a fun topic to ponder on, huh? My point is that without even realizing it, we can kind of check off this commandment as a no-brainer. But maybe we should take a closer look. Taking responsibility for our actions before there is danger is the key to making this commandment a priority in our lives. There can be physical danger, verbal danger, emotional, mental, or spiritual danger. The point of God's sixth commandment, to me, is to have self-control. This of course lines up with scripture, such as the Fruit of the Spirit found in Galations 5: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (verses 22-23.)
Make a special effort today to utilize self-control in all areas of your life! Keep Blazing, will ya?
I love how these next few commandments are so direct, to the point. No promises of a good life; rather, it's more of a "just do it" kind of attitude from God. This seems so black and white, doesn't it? But today's sinful world has managed to make even murder wishy washy and all kinds of shades of grey.
I assume if you are reading this blog, you are a Christian. And if you are a Christian, I assume (although I'm not sure I should) that you are pro-life. I believe that life begins at conception. I believe that because the Bible says so. We all know the wonderful verse in Psalms 139: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." But did you know those words, that attitude, is scattered throughout the Bible? Look at Job 10:10-12: "Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese, clothe me with skin and flesh and knit me together with bones and sinews? You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit." Therefore if we are Christians, and we believe that the Bible is wholly true, we cannot for a moment doubt that life begins at conception.
Nor can we doubt that only God can choose the time of our death. Ecclesiastes 3:2 says there is "a time to be born and a time to die." It is God who saves us from death or allows death to take us. Job is full of those examples - he was urged to beg God for death, and did in fact do so, but God was not ready for that yet. Therefore if we are Christians, and we believe that the Bible is wholly true, we cannot for a moment doubt that it is not our decision to take life from another, or even from ourselves.
Seems as if life, murder, death are pretty clear cut for Christians then, huh? But have you ever thought about reckless behavior being a sin? Speeding, distracted or impaired driving, road rage - those are all behaviors that at times could push us to the brink of death, or create someone else's death because of our actions. So when is the behavior wrong - when death occurs, or when life is put in danger?
OUCH!! Lead foot, right here. Texting while driving? Uh-huh. Road rage? I'd prefer not to answer that question. As I'm writing, and thinking over things, I'm realizing how many times I have put myself and others in danger by not being in control of my behavior while driving.
It's not just driving obstacles that cause danger. Have you thought about the angry words you have spoken before you stormed away from someone? Did you kill someone's feelings, someone's love, or worse - someone's desire for Christ because of your selfish and sinful actions and attitudes?
Boy oh boy. Not a fun topic to ponder on, huh? My point is that without even realizing it, we can kind of check off this commandment as a no-brainer. But maybe we should take a closer look. Taking responsibility for our actions before there is danger is the key to making this commandment a priority in our lives. There can be physical danger, verbal danger, emotional, mental, or spiritual danger. The point of God's sixth commandment, to me, is to have self-control. This of course lines up with scripture, such as the Fruit of the Spirit found in Galations 5: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (verses 22-23.)
Make a special effort today to utilize self-control in all areas of your life! Keep Blazing, will ya?
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
The Fifth Commandment
"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12
This, the fifth commandment, is one that has an awesome promise attached to it. For some, this commandment might bring a sense of joy. But for others, the concept of honoring our parents brings with it a sense of dread, even fear. But perhaps we do not truly understand what it means to honor.
The verb "honor" has several definitions (look at dictionary.com for explanation). Several of them can be applied here. One is, obviously, to show respect. There's also to "show a courteous regard for." And another: "to accept as valid and conform to the requests or demands of."
Notice, that in this command God does not tell us to love our parents. Some with dysfunctional parental relationships might be thankful for that realization! However, we know that love is the driving force behind everything God does, including giving us these commandments. Can we also say that love is a natural by-product of obeying the Ten Commandments? What did Jesus say about the commandments? Matthew 22 records this exchange between Jesus and one of the Pharisees: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (See also Mark 12 and Luke 10.)
One of the natural consequences of following the commandments of God is that love will follow. No one's parents are perfect people. Somehow, we decide that it is ok to hold them extra-responsible; in other words, as we grow into adulthood, we find ways to blame our upbringing or our parents' ways for our actions. Never mind that there is NO biblical justification for that, that we are each accountable for our own ways - no, we decide that the reason we cannot commit to anything is because our parents took away our favorite blankie when we were ten years old! OK, that's a ridiculous example, but look deeply into your life. What justifications are you holding onto, blaming your parents for what could actually be sin in your own life?
Honoring your parents in not always easy, and may mean different things to different people. For some, it's spending every Sunday dinner together. But for others, it may be not talking trash about their parents. It can be buying your parents a lavish Christmas gift. Or it can mean sending your parents a heartfelt note of thanks at Christmas time. There are many ways to honor our parents, and God in His wisdom never spelled out a hard and fast ritual way of doing so. That's because He knows, better than anyone, that parental relationships can be difficult, and honor comes in many fashions.
Having said all that, be cautious about holding your parents to a higher or different standard than you hold yourself - or that you want to be held to. Almost always, we do the best we can with the information and the abilities we have. So did your parents. Honoring them might be deciding to not hate them this time. Deciding not to hate can lead to acceptance. Acceptance leads to affection, and affection to love.
It's a process, is it not? It's a one-step-at-a-time kind of thing. Decide today to find a way to honor your parents - whether they are dead or alive! You can honor their memories and lives as well as the current relationship. Not only will you find yourself in God's favor, but obeying this commandment and honoring your parents will soothe your heart and troubles, like a balm of favor that will quiet inner turmoil. One day at a time.
Keep Blazing! Never forget.
Jenn
P.S. I believe my son has the flu. So if you don't hear from me for a couple of days, that's why!
This, the fifth commandment, is one that has an awesome promise attached to it. For some, this commandment might bring a sense of joy. But for others, the concept of honoring our parents brings with it a sense of dread, even fear. But perhaps we do not truly understand what it means to honor.
The verb "honor" has several definitions (look at dictionary.com for explanation). Several of them can be applied here. One is, obviously, to show respect. There's also to "show a courteous regard for." And another: "to accept as valid and conform to the requests or demands of."
Notice, that in this command God does not tell us to love our parents. Some with dysfunctional parental relationships might be thankful for that realization! However, we know that love is the driving force behind everything God does, including giving us these commandments. Can we also say that love is a natural by-product of obeying the Ten Commandments? What did Jesus say about the commandments? Matthew 22 records this exchange between Jesus and one of the Pharisees: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (See also Mark 12 and Luke 10.)
One of the natural consequences of following the commandments of God is that love will follow. No one's parents are perfect people. Somehow, we decide that it is ok to hold them extra-responsible; in other words, as we grow into adulthood, we find ways to blame our upbringing or our parents' ways for our actions. Never mind that there is NO biblical justification for that, that we are each accountable for our own ways - no, we decide that the reason we cannot commit to anything is because our parents took away our favorite blankie when we were ten years old! OK, that's a ridiculous example, but look deeply into your life. What justifications are you holding onto, blaming your parents for what could actually be sin in your own life?
Honoring your parents in not always easy, and may mean different things to different people. For some, it's spending every Sunday dinner together. But for others, it may be not talking trash about their parents. It can be buying your parents a lavish Christmas gift. Or it can mean sending your parents a heartfelt note of thanks at Christmas time. There are many ways to honor our parents, and God in His wisdom never spelled out a hard and fast ritual way of doing so. That's because He knows, better than anyone, that parental relationships can be difficult, and honor comes in many fashions.
Having said all that, be cautious about holding your parents to a higher or different standard than you hold yourself - or that you want to be held to. Almost always, we do the best we can with the information and the abilities we have. So did your parents. Honoring them might be deciding to not hate them this time. Deciding not to hate can lead to acceptance. Acceptance leads to affection, and affection to love.
It's a process, is it not? It's a one-step-at-a-time kind of thing. Decide today to find a way to honor your parents - whether they are dead or alive! You can honor their memories and lives as well as the current relationship. Not only will you find yourself in God's favor, but obeying this commandment and honoring your parents will soothe your heart and troubles, like a balm of favor that will quiet inner turmoil. One day at a time.
Keep Blazing! Never forget.
Jenn
P.S. I believe my son has the flu. So if you don't hear from me for a couple of days, that's why!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sunday the Sabbath?
Last week I promised that we would discuss the rationale for our (modern day Christians) Sabbath rest taking place on Sunday, instead of Saturday, as the Jewish nation was taught by God. This is not the easiest question to answer, and in fact, has caused me to do some real soul searching! There are lots of places on the web to do research; Bibles with commentaries and Bible commentaries themselves all have opinions.
However, the Bible itself is silent as to the right-ness or the wrong-ness of the decision by early Christians to worship on Sunday. The Bible simply refers to those Christians worshiping on Sunday. Period. According to kencollins.com, "In the early centuries, Christians everywhere worshiped on Sunday. We know that from Christian writers who described ancient worship, such as Justin Martyr, who died in 157. All ancient churches, from Gaul to Armenia, had their main worship service on Sunday."
He goes on to say, "Sunday was the universal day of Christian worship because it is the day of the Resurrection, the day after the Sabbath, and the Feast of Firstfruits—which is why Paul calls Jesus’ resurrection the firstfruits of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20). Since it is the first day of the week, it is also the eighth day of the previous week, the day of the new creation (the allusion in 2 Corinthians 5:17)."
Interestingly, Collins points out something I had not noticed before. The Sabbath commandment does not require worship, it prohibits work. Let's look at the commandment again: 8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."
Synagogues (Jewish houses of worship) were originally created for instruction, not worship. This was during the Babylonian captivity (again, according to Ken Collins). In the first century, many Christians, both Jews and Gentiles, continued to attend synagogue instruction on the Sabbath and then attended Christian worship on Sunday. Later, Jewish leaders excommunicated the Christians and inserted wording into the synagogue liturgy that would make Christians very uncomfortable, even if they did attend. So we were left with just Sunday.
The Sabbath, of course, is Saturday and only Saturday. Although Christians sometimes refer to Sunday as the Sabbath, it is clear the the declaration can only be made about Saturdays. However, Sunday is often referred to as the Lord's Day, because Jesus rested in the tomb on the Sabbath and rose on Sunday. Therefore the principal day of Christian worship has always been Sunday.
So, in a way, our way of life can be an argument for both the Sabbath and the Lord's Day. A typical work week (those of you who work weekends - sorry that this argument does not apply!) is Monday through Friday. On Saturday we refrain from work and on Sunday we worship God. Now, I'm not telling those of you with non-typical hours (is there such a thing anymore?) to tell your employers that working on Saturday is against your religious beliefs! But I do see the benefit of a truly restful weekend, where we cut back on our busy-ness, focus on the love of the one who created us, and direct our energies toward overflowing God's love to others.
Finally, let me quote from Ken Collins once again: "There is no day of the week on which you must NOT worship!" In other words, worship isn't a church thing, it's a life thing! It's always appropriate to worship God, your creator, your everything. God wants you to do it, you NEED to do it! Your heart longs to sing His praises every day of the week!
However, the Bible itself is silent as to the right-ness or the wrong-ness of the decision by early Christians to worship on Sunday. The Bible simply refers to those Christians worshiping on Sunday. Period. According to kencollins.com, "In the early centuries, Christians everywhere worshiped on Sunday. We know that from Christian writers who described ancient worship, such as Justin Martyr, who died in 157. All ancient churches, from Gaul to Armenia, had their main worship service on Sunday."
He goes on to say, "Sunday was the universal day of Christian worship because it is the day of the Resurrection, the day after the Sabbath, and the Feast of Firstfruits—which is why Paul calls Jesus’ resurrection the firstfruits of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20). Since it is the first day of the week, it is also the eighth day of the previous week, the day of the new creation (the allusion in 2 Corinthians 5:17)."
Interestingly, Collins points out something I had not noticed before. The Sabbath commandment does not require worship, it prohibits work. Let's look at the commandment again: 8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."
Synagogues (Jewish houses of worship) were originally created for instruction, not worship. This was during the Babylonian captivity (again, according to Ken Collins). In the first century, many Christians, both Jews and Gentiles, continued to attend synagogue instruction on the Sabbath and then attended Christian worship on Sunday. Later, Jewish leaders excommunicated the Christians and inserted wording into the synagogue liturgy that would make Christians very uncomfortable, even if they did attend. So we were left with just Sunday.
The Sabbath, of course, is Saturday and only Saturday. Although Christians sometimes refer to Sunday as the Sabbath, it is clear the the declaration can only be made about Saturdays. However, Sunday is often referred to as the Lord's Day, because Jesus rested in the tomb on the Sabbath and rose on Sunday. Therefore the principal day of Christian worship has always been Sunday.
So, in a way, our way of life can be an argument for both the Sabbath and the Lord's Day. A typical work week (those of you who work weekends - sorry that this argument does not apply!) is Monday through Friday. On Saturday we refrain from work and on Sunday we worship God. Now, I'm not telling those of you with non-typical hours (is there such a thing anymore?) to tell your employers that working on Saturday is against your religious beliefs! But I do see the benefit of a truly restful weekend, where we cut back on our busy-ness, focus on the love of the one who created us, and direct our energies toward overflowing God's love to others.
Finally, let me quote from Ken Collins once again: "There is no day of the week on which you must NOT worship!" In other words, worship isn't a church thing, it's a life thing! It's always appropriate to worship God, your creator, your everything. God wants you to do it, you NEED to do it! Your heart longs to sing His praises every day of the week!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Remember . . .
I apologize for missing yesterday's post. My day got away from me. I'm still new to blogland, I know there is a way to schedule my posts . . . anyway, I'll figure it out! Hope you didn't miss me too much! Now, let's talk about the fourth commandment.
8"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." Exodus 20:8-11
We've talked (at least, I imagine us as having a conversation!) over the few days of how the commandments are just one of God's expressions of love for us. Knowing that, we can trust that there is nothing that God would ask of us, or command us to do, that was not love-driven. In other words, if we have a love relationship with our Creator, we can trust that everything He says and does is because of His love for us.
Let's take these instructions about the Sabbath. God thinks we need a day of rest. That really kind of goes against the American work ethic of work hard, pull yourself up by your bootstraps, play harder kind of life. Many of us - especially Christians! - don't look at Sunday as a day of rest. (Is it ok if we agree that the discussion of which day is the Sabbath, why do we not have Saturday Sabbaths, all of that, can be saved for another day? I'll try to tackle it on Monday.) I know in our home, often Sunday is our busiest day! And it's also the day that we are most prone towards grouchiness, tiredness, and fatigue.
Hmmmm . . . why would our day of worship be tinged with irritability? Could it be that God knew what He was doing when He created us, that He in fact knew that one day we would celebrate the Sabbath on Sunday, not on Saturday, and that for most of the world the work week would begin the next day? Is it at all possible that God created a day of rest for OUR benefit?
What happens when we get tired? Not just physically tired, but mentally, emotionally, spiritually tired. We are just . . . done, right? You get to a place where you just literally cannot do it anymore, not one more thing. That's sure not where God wants us to be! Look at the verse that so many of us love:
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
We learn from that verse, that GOD renews us. Sure, we all love spa days, vacations, and movie nights. Sure, those things are relaxing. But the only way that we are going to get true energy and strength is through our Creator.
Know what I love about the Bible? I love how it all fits together. God gives us the commandment (for our own benefit) to rest on the Sabbath day. Then He tells us over and over that our rest comes from Him (the only rest that is perfect). Then Jesus comes to reinforce and reconnect us with this commandment. In Mark chapter 2 He says: 27"Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." The Message version says it this way: "The Sabbath was made to serve us; we weren't made to serve the Sabbath."
Isn't that a neat way to look at the purpose of the Sabbath? Again, it's for our benefit; the Sabbath serves us by allowing us rest, a time to recharge our batteries.
So . . . what are you doing to rest on the Sabbath? Are your activities honoring God by honoring this commandment? We have something called "Football Fellowship" in our church. We meet at someone's home on Sunday afternoons and eat, watch football, share time together, and have devotions during half time. I don't know about the other families involved, but studying this commandment really makes me want to rethink the way we do this. Why? I don't want to stress about having my house perfect, having the perfect food, and so on. I've decided that I want to offer this to our group: let's get pizza or subs and forget about the rest! It's not about the food, it's about the r's: resting. relaxing. recharging.
I'm cutting back on what we do on Sundays. Sunday evenings will be our family's Sabbath rest. We'll spend time together, talk about our worship experience, maybe play a game or watch a movie. We'll do whatever we have to do to truly - not just in name - but truly take a Sabbath.
Are you truly taking a Sabbath day? Are you honoring God with your Sabbath? Use this day to think that through, and re-think how you spend your day.
Keep blazing!
8"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." Exodus 20:8-11
We've talked (at least, I imagine us as having a conversation!) over the few days of how the commandments are just one of God's expressions of love for us. Knowing that, we can trust that there is nothing that God would ask of us, or command us to do, that was not love-driven. In other words, if we have a love relationship with our Creator, we can trust that everything He says and does is because of His love for us.
Let's take these instructions about the Sabbath. God thinks we need a day of rest. That really kind of goes against the American work ethic of work hard, pull yourself up by your bootstraps, play harder kind of life. Many of us - especially Christians! - don't look at Sunday as a day of rest. (Is it ok if we agree that the discussion of which day is the Sabbath, why do we not have Saturday Sabbaths, all of that, can be saved for another day? I'll try to tackle it on Monday.) I know in our home, often Sunday is our busiest day! And it's also the day that we are most prone towards grouchiness, tiredness, and fatigue.
Hmmmm . . . why would our day of worship be tinged with irritability? Could it be that God knew what He was doing when He created us, that He in fact knew that one day we would celebrate the Sabbath on Sunday, not on Saturday, and that for most of the world the work week would begin the next day? Is it at all possible that God created a day of rest for OUR benefit?
What happens when we get tired? Not just physically tired, but mentally, emotionally, spiritually tired. We are just . . . done, right? You get to a place where you just literally cannot do it anymore, not one more thing. That's sure not where God wants us to be! Look at the verse that so many of us love:
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
We learn from that verse, that GOD renews us. Sure, we all love spa days, vacations, and movie nights. Sure, those things are relaxing. But the only way that we are going to get true energy and strength is through our Creator.
Know what I love about the Bible? I love how it all fits together. God gives us the commandment (for our own benefit) to rest on the Sabbath day. Then He tells us over and over that our rest comes from Him (the only rest that is perfect). Then Jesus comes to reinforce and reconnect us with this commandment. In Mark chapter 2 He says: 27"Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." The Message version says it this way: "The Sabbath was made to serve us; we weren't made to serve the Sabbath."
Isn't that a neat way to look at the purpose of the Sabbath? Again, it's for our benefit; the Sabbath serves us by allowing us rest, a time to recharge our batteries.
So . . . what are you doing to rest on the Sabbath? Are your activities honoring God by honoring this commandment? We have something called "Football Fellowship" in our church. We meet at someone's home on Sunday afternoons and eat, watch football, share time together, and have devotions during half time. I don't know about the other families involved, but studying this commandment really makes me want to rethink the way we do this. Why? I don't want to stress about having my house perfect, having the perfect food, and so on. I've decided that I want to offer this to our group: let's get pizza or subs and forget about the rest! It's not about the food, it's about the r's: resting. relaxing. recharging.
I'm cutting back on what we do on Sundays. Sunday evenings will be our family's Sabbath rest. We'll spend time together, talk about our worship experience, maybe play a game or watch a movie. We'll do whatever we have to do to truly - not just in name - but truly take a Sabbath.
Are you truly taking a Sabbath day? Are you honoring God with your Sabbath? Use this day to think that through, and re-think how you spend your day.
Keep blazing!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
What's on Third?
7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." Exodus 20:7
Have you ever compared the different biblical versions of this verse? Most of us know it by the King James, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." In fact, I could spend a whole day's blog on the "thou shalt nots . . . " and how we have messed that up . . . but maybe when we're done with all the commandments. The Message version says this: "No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won't put up with the irreverent use of his name." And finally, for just one more comparison, the New American Standard Bible puts it this way: "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain."
Let's start with how most of us remember this verse: not taking God's name in vain. What does "in vain" mean? According to Random House Dictionary, "vain" means "without effect or avail; to no purpose;
in an improper or irreverent manner."
Wow. I have always accepted the "irreverence" part. But think about using God's name without effect or avail. To use God's name, the reference to His character, in a way that has no purpose, that does not glorify or edify Him is to nullify His name when we want to use it in the proper context. We don't realize just how powerful His name is. Did you know that there are 170 names of God? (And those are just the ones I could find!) Did you realize that some of the words we use to describe Him are actually naming Him? For example, we know that God is "Adonai", meaning, Lord, but did you also know that He is "Faithful and True?" Revelation 19:11 says, "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war." Go into any search engine on the internet and type in "names of God" and see what you come up with. Compare the words, the terminology, and see them as names for perhaps the first time.
I think in the past I have made the mistake of thinking of God's names as descriptions, and not names. Names by themselves are powerful - but God's name . . . it speaks life, it brings comfort, it arouses fear, it creates peace . . . His name does it all. Have you ever been so upset, so deep in the muck and the mire that you didn't know how to pray? All you could say . . . was His name. "Oh God, oh God." Or, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus."
Think about the purpose of a name. Is it for no other reason than to identify, to distinguish, to keep things distinct from each other? THAT'S why keeping God's name is so important. His name identifies Him! Whether you have been using it in vain, or misusing it, or using it in a silly fashion (anyone want to own up to using OMG?), God is saying it's wrong. His name is His name - I AM that I AM.
Let's work on this together today. I am going to print a list of the names of God, and really study it today. I want to do nothing but bring honor to ALL His names, and I never want to misuse it in any way.
Hey, feel free to leave me a comment! If I'm not explaining things well enough, or if you need more information, just let me know, and I'll get back with you as soon as I can. And remember - Keep Blazing! Don't ever let anyone put out your light.
Have you ever compared the different biblical versions of this verse? Most of us know it by the King James, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." In fact, I could spend a whole day's blog on the "thou shalt nots . . . " and how we have messed that up . . . but maybe when we're done with all the commandments. The Message version says this: "No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won't put up with the irreverent use of his name." And finally, for just one more comparison, the New American Standard Bible puts it this way: "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain."
Let's start with how most of us remember this verse: not taking God's name in vain. What does "in vain" mean? According to Random House Dictionary, "vain" means "without effect or avail; to no purpose;
in an improper or irreverent manner."
Wow. I have always accepted the "irreverence" part. But think about using God's name without effect or avail. To use God's name, the reference to His character, in a way that has no purpose, that does not glorify or edify Him is to nullify His name when we want to use it in the proper context. We don't realize just how powerful His name is. Did you know that there are 170 names of God? (And those are just the ones I could find!) Did you realize that some of the words we use to describe Him are actually naming Him? For example, we know that God is "Adonai", meaning, Lord, but did you also know that He is "Faithful and True?" Revelation 19:11 says, "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war." Go into any search engine on the internet and type in "names of God" and see what you come up with. Compare the words, the terminology, and see them as names for perhaps the first time.
I think in the past I have made the mistake of thinking of God's names as descriptions, and not names. Names by themselves are powerful - but God's name . . . it speaks life, it brings comfort, it arouses fear, it creates peace . . . His name does it all. Have you ever been so upset, so deep in the muck and the mire that you didn't know how to pray? All you could say . . . was His name. "Oh God, oh God." Or, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus."
Think about the purpose of a name. Is it for no other reason than to identify, to distinguish, to keep things distinct from each other? THAT'S why keeping God's name is so important. His name identifies Him! Whether you have been using it in vain, or misusing it, or using it in a silly fashion (anyone want to own up to using OMG?), God is saying it's wrong. His name is His name - I AM that I AM.
Let's work on this together today. I am going to print a list of the names of God, and really study it today. I want to do nothing but bring honor to ALL His names, and I never want to misuse it in any way.
Hey, feel free to leave me a comment! If I'm not explaining things well enough, or if you need more information, just let me know, and I'll get back with you as soon as I can. And remember - Keep Blazing! Don't ever let anyone put out your light.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
What's on Second?
4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments." Exodus 4 - 6
We're moving on to the second commandment. This commandment, to some, might seem oddly like the first commandment. Yesterday we talked about not having any other god but God. Now, God says that we are not to make idols out of anything, and we are not to worship them.
It strikes me that God is pretty specific in this instruction, don't you think? We are not to make idols from forms found in heaven (like say . . . angels?), on earth (like religious statues, even maybe a crucifix?), or in the waters below (like, I don't know . . . kelp? Just kidding.). Not only are we not to make them in the first place, but God goes a step further . . . don't worship them. Some things are already made, we don't have to make them . . . like angels. But just because angels are around and they are heavenly creatures doesn't mean they deserve the worship that is designed for God and God alone.
And He goes further - this commandment comes with a pretty specific consequence - punishment that will be handed down for generations. But don't get mad, because once again, there's a promise - those who love God and keep His commandments are showered with His love and blessing for a thousand generations!
So why is God so keen on keeping Himself as first place for us? Why is it so important? Let me quote from a book called, "The Liberating Law":
We're moving on to the second commandment. This commandment, to some, might seem oddly like the first commandment. Yesterday we talked about not having any other god but God. Now, God says that we are not to make idols out of anything, and we are not to worship them.
It strikes me that God is pretty specific in this instruction, don't you think? We are not to make idols from forms found in heaven (like say . . . angels?), on earth (like religious statues, even maybe a crucifix?), or in the waters below (like, I don't know . . . kelp? Just kidding.). Not only are we not to make them in the first place, but God goes a step further . . . don't worship them. Some things are already made, we don't have to make them . . . like angels. But just because angels are around and they are heavenly creatures doesn't mean they deserve the worship that is designed for God and God alone.
And He goes further - this commandment comes with a pretty specific consequence - punishment that will be handed down for generations. But don't get mad, because once again, there's a promise - those who love God and keep His commandments are showered with His love and blessing for a thousand generations!
So why is God so keen on keeping Himself as first place for us? Why is it so important? Let me quote from a book called, "The Liberating Law":
"Imagine, if when someone wanted to talk to you, they made themselves a hollow, lifeless plaster doll, that they said represented you, brought it into your presence and instead of talking to you directly, they talked to the lifeless plaster doll, as if it were you, all the while ignoring the real you who was right there with them. Would you think someone who did that was very foolish? Would you be offended by someone who "sees you" as a plaster dummy?"
So take a look around you. Look at your home, at your life, at the way you choose to worship. Is there anything that is dangerously close - or worse, already there and you haven't addressed it - that is an idol? One good way to know - where do you spend your time? In front of the television? Playing sports? On the computer? Scrapbooking (yikes, don't go there, I say to myself!) None of those things are wrong . . . but are they in the wrong place? Here are some other things that can easily take the place of God in our lives. Church. ouch! A career. yikes! Your kids. that really hurts!
Consider Matthew 6:21: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." The Message refers to it like this: "The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being." Christ gives us the perfect way to evaluate how closely we are obeying the second commandment. Where do you most want to be? Do you want to be with God? Remember the priority list from yesterday? God's not calling you to ignore your kids, your job, your hobbies and interests. He's just saying, use me to do those things. Serve me by serving them. Consider 1 Corinthians 10:31: "Therefore, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
So here's my confession: I LOVE to teach. But I can easily drift off into teaching for any praise and feedback that I receive, and neglect to give GOD the praise. I have to be careful that I don't let that happen . . . well, continually. So when I teach, I have to remember that I'm not teaching for my class's benefit. I'm teaching to honor and glorify the One who created me.
It's a beautiful day today in Indiana. It's going to be 70 degrees! No matter where you are, enjoy your day. And use it to search your heart. Look around . . . what is drifting into the wrong place in your life? Take note - as Christians, that's usually how it happens . . . drifting. We often don't think that we are actively making a choice to put something before God. However, whether it drifts, suddenly appears, or explodes - it's always our choice. A thousand little choices drift into an explosion, and suddenly we are far from God.
But He's never far from us. He's always calling, always loving, always pursuing you.
What a long post today! I love God - truly love Him!!! Sometimes when I get talking about Him I just can't stop! Have a great day - keep blazing!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Who's on First, part 2
So today we take a look at the first commandment, found in Exodus 20:3, "You shall have no other gods before me." Take a moment to register your immediate reaction - is it relief? Is it frustration? Maybe a little bit of anger? We can feel relief - I don't want any other gods, this shows me that God wants a one-on-one relationship with me. We can feel frustration - God's kinda uppity, ain't He? We can feel anger - Who does He think He is?
You know, feelings are just that - feelings. They aren't right or wrong, they just are. Now, unresolved feelings - that's a whole different ballgame. In my opinion, unresolved feelings are the quickest way to sin. Unresolved anger becomes hate. Unresolved guilt becomes self-revulsion. Unresolved frustration becomes selfishness. So whatever your immediate reaction is to this first revelation from God, share it with Him. I know you know that He already knows, but sometimes it helps to be reminded. Tell Him what He knows! What happens when we do that?
We are honoring the first commandment! We are keeping God in His rightful place - as the ONLY God in our lives. When we honor the commandment to keep God as the only God, we honor Him. Even if you're going to Him with anger, or frustration, or guilt - whatever - when you honor Him with your voice, you are admitting to Him that He alone is God. Even if the voice quivers and wavers, reaching out with shaky hands and a child-like trust.
As a Christian, there's a promise right at the beginning of this list of Commandments - it's that God wants us to only have Him, and He will only have us. Too many of us have compromised God by putting Him "first on our priority list." Have you noticed in your life that God's not gonna be put on a list? He is the list! A Christian honoring the first commandment has a priority list that looks like this:
Examine your heart today. Is God everything for you? Is He all things? Is He the ONLY God that you have in your life, on your mind, and in your heart?
You know, feelings are just that - feelings. They aren't right or wrong, they just are. Now, unresolved feelings - that's a whole different ballgame. In my opinion, unresolved feelings are the quickest way to sin. Unresolved anger becomes hate. Unresolved guilt becomes self-revulsion. Unresolved frustration becomes selfishness. So whatever your immediate reaction is to this first revelation from God, share it with Him. I know you know that He already knows, but sometimes it helps to be reminded. Tell Him what He knows! What happens when we do that?
We are honoring the first commandment! We are keeping God in His rightful place - as the ONLY God in our lives. When we honor the commandment to keep God as the only God, we honor Him. Even if you're going to Him with anger, or frustration, or guilt - whatever - when you honor Him with your voice, you are admitting to Him that He alone is God. Even if the voice quivers and wavers, reaching out with shaky hands and a child-like trust.
As a Christian, there's a promise right at the beginning of this list of Commandments - it's that God wants us to only have Him, and He will only have us. Too many of us have compromised God by putting Him "first on our priority list." Have you noticed in your life that God's not gonna be put on a list? He is the list! A Christian honoring the first commandment has a priority list that looks like this:
- Serve Jesus.
- Serve Jesus by honoring my spouse.
- Serve Jesus by loving my kids.
- Serve Jesus by working in my church.
- Serve Jesus by doing my best in the workplace.
- Serve Jesus.
- Serve Jesus.
- Serve Jesus.
Examine your heart today. Is God everything for you? Is He all things? Is He the ONLY God that you have in your life, on your mind, and in your heart?
Who's On First?
This week and next I will be writing about the 10 Commandments. I've been studying for a new series for church, and there is so much more about the Ten Commandments than what meets the eye! So, let's begin at the beginning:
I have written a few paragraphs, but feel impressed to stop and give myself a do-over. I don't want to start at the first commandment. We should start before that. The first commandment isn't the beginning.
The beginning is why we have the commandments in the first place. Sometimes it seems that we have given God a bad reputation, as if the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament are split personalities. Jekyl and Hyde. Two Face from the Batman series. One good side, one mean side.
That's a tragic twist of God's character that was begun, twisted and spewed by Satan himself! The God of the Old Testament is nothing if not love. Jesus didn't come as an antithesis of God's character, but as a completion of it!
Let's take a look at Exodus 19, the chapter that precedes the Ten Commandments.
3 Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you [a] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."
7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, "We will do everything the LORD has said." So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD.
9 The LORD said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you." Then Moses told the LORD what the people had said.
Look carefully at verses 4, 5, and 6. God says that He brought them to Himself. He gives them promises of becoming His treasured possession and a holy nation. Oh, that's love!
So many Christians have fallen into Satan's trap of viewing the Ten Commandments as a set of rules. NOTHING could be farther from the truth. These commandments are a set of promises, showcasing God's love. Are they to be followed? Absolutely! But how many rules do you know that are followed by promises of goodness? Look at your personnel manual at work sometime. I guarantee, that while the pages may highlight what the company is bound to do for you legally (for example, pay you; offer a safe work environment, etc.) it most likely doesn't talk about how you will be honored by following the rules the company has established.
As we dig into each commandment, we are going to see how loving and kind our God is, how He has spent eternity pulling us closer to Him, how He has been pursuing us even before we were born! These commandments are just one example of that!
Finish reading chapter 19. It's electric - literally! God loves you. He loves you! HE LOVES YOU!
I have written a few paragraphs, but feel impressed to stop and give myself a do-over. I don't want to start at the first commandment. We should start before that. The first commandment isn't the beginning.
The beginning is why we have the commandments in the first place. Sometimes it seems that we have given God a bad reputation, as if the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament are split personalities. Jekyl and Hyde. Two Face from the Batman series. One good side, one mean side.
That's a tragic twist of God's character that was begun, twisted and spewed by Satan himself! The God of the Old Testament is nothing if not love. Jesus didn't come as an antithesis of God's character, but as a completion of it!
Let's take a look at Exodus 19, the chapter that precedes the Ten Commandments.
3 Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you [a] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."
7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, "We will do everything the LORD has said." So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD.
9 The LORD said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you." Then Moses told the LORD what the people had said.
Look carefully at verses 4, 5, and 6. God says that He brought them to Himself. He gives them promises of becoming His treasured possession and a holy nation. Oh, that's love!
So many Christians have fallen into Satan's trap of viewing the Ten Commandments as a set of rules. NOTHING could be farther from the truth. These commandments are a set of promises, showcasing God's love. Are they to be followed? Absolutely! But how many rules do you know that are followed by promises of goodness? Look at your personnel manual at work sometime. I guarantee, that while the pages may highlight what the company is bound to do for you legally (for example, pay you; offer a safe work environment, etc.) it most likely doesn't talk about how you will be honored by following the rules the company has established.
As we dig into each commandment, we are going to see how loving and kind our God is, how He has spent eternity pulling us closer to Him, how He has been pursuing us even before we were born! These commandments are just one example of that!
Finish reading chapter 19. It's electric - literally! God loves you. He loves you! HE LOVES YOU!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Sorry
Sorry I missed yesterday! Below are yesterday's and today's posts. Next week we start looking at the 10 Commandments!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Does God Love Us? Part 5
28 You save the humble,
but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
29 You are my lamp, O LORD;
the LORD turns my darkness into light.
30 With your help I can advance against a troop [g] ;
with my God I can scale a wall.
31 "As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
32 For who is God besides the LORD ?
And who is the Rock except our God?
33 It is God who arms me with strength [h]
and makes my way perfect.
34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.
35 He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36 You give me your shield of victory;
you stoop down to make me great.
37 You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn.
38 "I pursued my enemies and crushed them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
39 I crushed them completely, and they could not rise;
they fell beneath my feet.
40 You armed me with strength for battle;
you made my adversaries bow at my feet.
41 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
and I destroyed my foes.
42 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—
to the LORD, but he did not answer.
43 I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth;
I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets.
44 "You have delivered me from the attacks of my people;
you have preserved me as the head of nations.
People I did not know are subject to me,
45 and foreigners come cringing to me;
as soon as they hear me, they obey me.
46 They all lose heart;
they come trembling [i] from their strongholds.
47 "The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!
48 He is the God who avenges me,
who puts the nations under me,
49 who sets me free from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
from violent men you rescued me.
50 Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations;
I will sing praises to your name.
51 He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,
to David and his descendants forever."
You know what?
The question I've been asking all week is: Does God love us?
Yeah. Yeah, He does.
but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
29 You are my lamp, O LORD;
the LORD turns my darkness into light.
30 With your help I can advance against a troop [g] ;
with my God I can scale a wall.
31 "As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
32 For who is God besides the LORD ?
And who is the Rock except our God?
33 It is God who arms me with strength [h]
and makes my way perfect.
34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.
35 He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36 You give me your shield of victory;
you stoop down to make me great.
37 You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn.
38 "I pursued my enemies and crushed them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
39 I crushed them completely, and they could not rise;
they fell beneath my feet.
40 You armed me with strength for battle;
you made my adversaries bow at my feet.
41 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
and I destroyed my foes.
42 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—
to the LORD, but he did not answer.
43 I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth;
I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets.
44 "You have delivered me from the attacks of my people;
you have preserved me as the head of nations.
People I did not know are subject to me,
45 and foreigners come cringing to me;
as soon as they hear me, they obey me.
46 They all lose heart;
they come trembling [i] from their strongholds.
47 "The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!
48 He is the God who avenges me,
who puts the nations under me,
49 who sets me free from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
from violent men you rescued me.
50 Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations;
I will sing praises to your name.
51 He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,
to David and his descendants forever."
You know what?
The question I've been asking all week is: Does God love us?
Yeah. Yeah, He does.
Does God Love Us? Part 4
"The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. 22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD;
I have not done evil by turning from my God.
23 All his laws are before me;
I have not turned away from his decrees.
24 I have been blameless before him
and have kept myself from sin.
25 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to my cleanness [f] in his sight.
26 "To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
27 to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
28 You save the humble,
but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
29 You are my lamp, O LORD;
the LORD turns my darkness into light.
30 With your help I can advance against a troop [g] ;
with my God I can scale a wall.
If you read the book of Psalms, you'll find a nearly identical passage as this one in Psalm 18. It's nearly word for word. I read in a commentary that the Psalm was probably written toward the end of David's life. That puzzled me, because David refers to himself as being "blameless" and "clean." Isn't this the same David who had an affair with another man's wife and had her husband killed to cover up for his actions?
Then I looked further. I realized that the account of David & Bathsheba is recorded in 2 Samuel 11. First came the sin. In 2 Samuel 12, the prophet Nathan confronts David, and David confesses, "I have sinned against the Lord (verse 13)." Second came the confession. Nathan replies to David in the same verse, "The Lord has taken away your sin." So third came the forgiveness.
And then what? David didn't wallow in self-pity, or throw himself to the wolves because of his unrighteousness. Quite the contrary! The key is in the fourth step: David accepted God's forgiveness. He was willing to be made new! Of course, there were consequences, as David and Bathsheba's baby died. But even that death didn't stop David from believing in God's goodness and in God's ability to create a new life in David!
If you know me at all, you'll hear me give the following analogy. I always use it! When you lived in sin, that sin built a house. You lived in that house because you had no where else to go. But Jesus came along, and with the sound of a hammer and spike, that house fell to the ground. Completely obliterated. Gone. He built you a new house - a home - full of love, forgiveness, and football (according to the Audio Adrenaline song!).
But that crafty devil comes alongside you and whispers in your ear: "You don't deserve that house. Come back to the house you belong in." And you are tempted to pick up a brick and some mortar, a board and some nails, and rebuild that house. No matter that the materials are faulty, that it smells like a sewer and the landscaping is barren. Satan knows how tempted you are to go back, not because you want to sin, but because you don't believe you deserve anything else.
I'm here to tell you something - believe it! B-E-L-I-E-V-E IT! How many times must we be told that He wants us, that He has pursued us throughout eternity, that He created us to be His? At some point it has to become a choice, an act of your will to believe. Jesus said in Mark 9:23, "All things are possible to him who believes." The man to whom Jesus was speaking cried out: "Lord I believe! Help my unbelief!"
So cry out to Him today. Believe. It's your choice. Does God love us? How many more ways can He say it?
Keep Blazing.
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. 22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD;
I have not done evil by turning from my God.
23 All his laws are before me;
I have not turned away from his decrees.
24 I have been blameless before him
and have kept myself from sin.
25 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to my cleanness [f] in his sight.
26 "To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
27 to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
28 You save the humble,
but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
29 You are my lamp, O LORD;
the LORD turns my darkness into light.
30 With your help I can advance against a troop [g] ;
with my God I can scale a wall.
If you read the book of Psalms, you'll find a nearly identical passage as this one in Psalm 18. It's nearly word for word. I read in a commentary that the Psalm was probably written toward the end of David's life. That puzzled me, because David refers to himself as being "blameless" and "clean." Isn't this the same David who had an affair with another man's wife and had her husband killed to cover up for his actions?
Then I looked further. I realized that the account of David & Bathsheba is recorded in 2 Samuel 11. First came the sin. In 2 Samuel 12, the prophet Nathan confronts David, and David confesses, "I have sinned against the Lord (verse 13)." Second came the confession. Nathan replies to David in the same verse, "The Lord has taken away your sin." So third came the forgiveness.
And then what? David didn't wallow in self-pity, or throw himself to the wolves because of his unrighteousness. Quite the contrary! The key is in the fourth step: David accepted God's forgiveness. He was willing to be made new! Of course, there were consequences, as David and Bathsheba's baby died. But even that death didn't stop David from believing in God's goodness and in God's ability to create a new life in David!
If you know me at all, you'll hear me give the following analogy. I always use it! When you lived in sin, that sin built a house. You lived in that house because you had no where else to go. But Jesus came along, and with the sound of a hammer and spike, that house fell to the ground. Completely obliterated. Gone. He built you a new house - a home - full of love, forgiveness, and football (according to the Audio Adrenaline song!).
But that crafty devil comes alongside you and whispers in your ear: "You don't deserve that house. Come back to the house you belong in." And you are tempted to pick up a brick and some mortar, a board and some nails, and rebuild that house. No matter that the materials are faulty, that it smells like a sewer and the landscaping is barren. Satan knows how tempted you are to go back, not because you want to sin, but because you don't believe you deserve anything else.
I'm here to tell you something - believe it! B-E-L-I-E-V-E IT! How many times must we be told that He wants us, that He has pursued us throughout eternity, that He created us to be His? At some point it has to become a choice, an act of your will to believe. Jesus said in Mark 9:23, "All things are possible to him who believes." The man to whom Jesus was speaking cried out: "Lord I believe! Help my unbelief!"
So cry out to Him today. Believe. It's your choice. Does God love us? How many more ways can He say it?
Keep Blazing.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Does God Love Us? Part 3
17 "He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.
20 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
God is such a protector. Too many times we blame God for the difficulties of our lives, but how quick are we to stop and look to see how much He protects us from? Revelation 22:13 says "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." He's everything, don't you see?
Strong enough and big enough to rescue me from the deep waters. Small enough to hear my humble cry. Great enough to rescue me from my enemy. Caring enough to support me when I can barely stand. Loving enough to cover my sins with the blood of His son. Caring enough to not want me to sin in the first place.
He's everything. He's all things. He's enough.
Verse 20 says that the Lord "delighted" in me. That's not just David talking. That's God's love speaking through His servant, David. Big enough to create the universe. Small enough to find delight in little me. He loves me. He loves you. The worst sinner in the world - He loves. The most pious saint - He loves. He doesn't love anyone begrudgingly; no, He loves each of us with the same fierceness we have been reading about in this scripture. Love that roars! Love that delights! Big enough! Small enough!
Tomorrow . . . God's forgiveness.
Keep Blazing.
he drew me out of deep waters.
18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.
20 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
God is such a protector. Too many times we blame God for the difficulties of our lives, but how quick are we to stop and look to see how much He protects us from? Revelation 22:13 says "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." He's everything, don't you see?
Strong enough and big enough to rescue me from the deep waters. Small enough to hear my humble cry. Great enough to rescue me from my enemy. Caring enough to support me when I can barely stand. Loving enough to cover my sins with the blood of His son. Caring enough to not want me to sin in the first place.
He's everything. He's all things. He's enough.
Verse 20 says that the Lord "delighted" in me. That's not just David talking. That's God's love speaking through His servant, David. Big enough to create the universe. Small enough to find delight in little me. He loves me. He loves you. The worst sinner in the world - He loves. The most pious saint - He loves. He doesn't love anyone begrudgingly; no, He loves each of us with the same fierceness we have been reading about in this scripture. Love that roars! Love that delights! Big enough! Small enough!
Tomorrow . . . God's forgiveness.
Keep Blazing.
Does God Love Us? part 2
10 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet. 11 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared [d] on the wings of the wind.
12 He made darkness his canopy around him—
the dark [e] rain clouds of the sky.
13 Out of the brightness of his presence
bolts of lightning blazed forth.
14 The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
15 He shot arrows and scattered the enemies ,
bolts of lightning and routed them.
16 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at the rebuke of the LORD,
at the blast of breath from his nostrils.
Again, we are looking at 2 Samuel 22 - the whole chapter. Yesterday we were introduced to the interruption in God's day (speaking awfully loosely here, you know) with David's lamentations of attack. We saw that it didn't matter what God was doing - in my imagination, I hear God thunder, "Who DARES attack my servant David?!?"
In verse 10 we see God's response - it's action! He's like Batman, who springs into action when he sees the bat signal! Don't think me sacrilegious- I'm not comparing God to super-heroes. He's incomparable! And yet, it's the closest image I can come to. So when God responds, it's not with advice, or pats on the back, or a busy signal, but with action.
He parts the heavens! He mounts the backs of cherubim and swarms to David's aid! He is a mighty conqueror! You'll notice in verse 13 the title of this blog - "out of the brightness of His presence bolts of lightning blazed forth." That's power - right?!?
That's the kind of power that comes to our aid every single time we need it. The same intensity of power may come quietly, may come blazing, but the intensity, the desire to help His people, the fierceness of His protection for us - it never changes.
Just a blast of breath from his nostrils is enough to lay bare the foundations of the earth. So . . . does God love us? All this power, all this fierceness . . . is fueled by love. We can never understand how much God loves us. For now, let us accept the intensity, personified in this scripture, that is at the foundation of His love. This old testament God, the God that so many have demonized and trivialized away as one who is mean, unloving, and punishing -- loves us with intensity that we cannot understand. All we can do is accept, with eternal gratitude, this unspeakable gift.
Will you go deeper with me tomorrow? It gets even better! Keep blazing!
dark clouds were under his feet. 11 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared [d] on the wings of the wind.
12 He made darkness his canopy around him—
the dark [e] rain clouds of the sky.
13 Out of the brightness of his presence
bolts of lightning blazed forth.
14 The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
15 He shot arrows and scattered the enemies ,
bolts of lightning and routed them.
16 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at the rebuke of the LORD,
at the blast of breath from his nostrils.
Again, we are looking at 2 Samuel 22 - the whole chapter. Yesterday we were introduced to the interruption in God's day (speaking awfully loosely here, you know) with David's lamentations of attack. We saw that it didn't matter what God was doing - in my imagination, I hear God thunder, "Who DARES attack my servant David?!?"
In verse 10 we see God's response - it's action! He's like Batman, who springs into action when he sees the bat signal! Don't think me sacrilegious- I'm not comparing God to super-heroes. He's incomparable! And yet, it's the closest image I can come to. So when God responds, it's not with advice, or pats on the back, or a busy signal, but with action.
He parts the heavens! He mounts the backs of cherubim and swarms to David's aid! He is a mighty conqueror! You'll notice in verse 13 the title of this blog - "out of the brightness of His presence bolts of lightning blazed forth." That's power - right?!?
That's the kind of power that comes to our aid every single time we need it. The same intensity of power may come quietly, may come blazing, but the intensity, the desire to help His people, the fierceness of His protection for us - it never changes.
Just a blast of breath from his nostrils is enough to lay bare the foundations of the earth. So . . . does God love us? All this power, all this fierceness . . . is fueled by love. We can never understand how much God loves us. For now, let us accept the intensity, personified in this scripture, that is at the foundation of His love. This old testament God, the God that so many have demonized and trivialized away as one who is mean, unloving, and punishing -- loves us with intensity that we cannot understand. All we can do is accept, with eternal gratitude, this unspeakable gift.
Will you go deeper with me tomorrow? It gets even better! Keep blazing!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Does God Love Us?
2 Samuel 22
David's Song of Praise
1 David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said:"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; 3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn [a] of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—
from violent men you save me.
4 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.
5 "The waves of death swirled about me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
6 The cords of the grave [b] coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
7 In my distress I called to the LORD;
I called out to my God.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came to his ears.
8 "The earth trembled and quaked,
the foundations of the heavens [c] shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
9 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
I have this image in my mind when I read this passage of scripture. I see God, the angels, all the people in heaven rocking out in some kind of amazing worship service - to me, it would be the best service I've ever been in . . . times a million. On steroids. Can you imagine heaven's worship?? Wow . . . OK, focus now. Back to the scripture. So I imagine God, right in the middle of worship, loving His people, being loved and praised and worshiped in return - but wait!! What's that He hears? It's me! Crying out to Him, begging Him to rescue me.
The amazing thing, according to David, is that God doesn't put me on hold. In fact, He becomes angry! What is He angry about, you might ask? Well, as we will see tomorrow, He isn't angry with David. We're about to find out just how much God loves His people . . . so much that when we are under attack or threatened, His anger shakes the earth!
Can you imagine that kind of love? Think about how angry you might get when you feel your child is under attack. Maybe she's the victim of a teenage bully. Or perhaps he has fallen prey to an adult that simply doesn't like him for some reason. When you know your child is being hurt, don't you get angry? So imagine --- big, eternal God --- angry over you, coming to your rescue.
Does God love us? This scripture says so - let's face it, the whole Bible is God's love letter to His people. But I truly love the picture this paints for us of how He loves us. Just wait till tomorrow!! It gets even better . . .
Keep blazing!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
It Begins . . .
Well, it begins! I find that as I am studying for classes or small groups I teach at church, there is always so much more to share than what I am able to share in the short time I have. So I have decided to start this blog, so that I can keep right on teaching after the class is over!
Today, since this is the first time, I'm keeping it short. I'm inviting you to read the scripture 2 Samuel 22. It's my favorite piece of scripture in the Bible - I'm sure it was written just for me! I'll be posting more thoughts about this through the week. But for now, just read it, meditate on it . . . and let me know what you think!
Keep blazing!
Today, since this is the first time, I'm keeping it short. I'm inviting you to read the scripture 2 Samuel 22. It's my favorite piece of scripture in the Bible - I'm sure it was written just for me! I'll be posting more thoughts about this through the week. But for now, just read it, meditate on it . . . and let me know what you think!
Keep blazing!
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