"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.