Okay, here I go. I’m going to hopefully intertwine parts from all four scripture readings form today. Stay with me on this.
In Exodus I read about The Ten Commandments. These are not suggestions for us to pick and choose from or to use when it is convenient for us. They are (clearing the throat) Commands. Period.
I like what Jack Wellman, a writer for “What Christians Want to Know” website said about the Ten Commandments. He penned, “The first four Commandments are horizontal. That is they involve our relationship with God. The last six Commandments are vertical and establish how we ought to relate to our fellow human beings. It is interesting that when they are put together, they form a cross.” Now that I think about it, I have heard that before. And when I went back and reread those ten powerful God-breathed instructions, I can totally see the relationship between them, God, and man.
Here, read The Ten Commandments for yourself:
- 3“You shall have no other gods before me.
- 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image 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 parents 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.
- 7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
- 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 male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 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.
- 12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
- 13 “You shall not murder.
- 14 “You shall not commit adultery.
- 15 “You shall not steal.
- 16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
- 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
A smidgen later in verse 20 “Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.’” Boy oh boy have I quite often been grateful for my fear (deep and reverent awe) of God. Just knowing that if I were to choose one way verses another that the wrong choice would NOT make God happy. Stopping me from sin is a good thing.
After Exodus, I turned to the Book of Matthew. In Matthew 24:13 it says, “Staying with it—that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved.” During the verses surrounding this text, Jesus was warning the disciples about the future. He was saying what would happen on the earth and even how Christians will be persecuted for His name sake.
Listen, you will be tempted to give in to sin and do as the “world” would have you to do. But be careful, don’t forget His Commands (Do you need to go back and meditate on God’s Ten Commandments?), and stick with God!
The third book of the bible I turned to was Psalm 18:50, “He shows His faithful love to His chosen one”
Stop right there. Get this…YOU are chosen by God. He wants YOU. He wants to have a relationship with YOU. My God is faithful. My God is love. And He wants to show and lavish His faithful love on YOU.
Have you ever wanted someone or something so bad, but they didn’t want you or you didn’t get the thing you longed to have? The feeling of hurt may have been felt to the core of your soul. For one, maybe, just maybe, you didn’t get it or them because God was protecting you and knew He had something or someone better for you. Well, God desires you. And He IS the best thing for you. Don’t break His heart either by not choosing Him or by sinning. Honor God (Exodus 20:3), stay with Him (seek Matthew 24:13), and allow Him to lavish you with His faithful love (Psalm 18:50).
Finally, I got to Proverbs 4:14-15, “Don’t take the path of the wicked; don’t follow those who do evil. 15 Stay away from that path; don’t even go near it. Turn around and go another way.” This just reiterated everything I mentioned above. So…there.
It is my desire that as you read through my crazy journaling, that you will be encouraged to read through the bible. Open your eyes to His word and fall in love with Jesus. You will discover how the Old and New Testaments blend together. God’s plan is perfect for you. Do you know what it is? Seek Him and you will find. Thanks for sticking with me as I journal through God’s word.
Blessings to you.
February 7