March 8, 2018 Thursday

“And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. “You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” (Exodus 20:1-7 NKJV)

            Why do some people seem to have a problem with the 10 Commandments, the Bible and prayer? Why is there no cry against the writings of Buddha, Confucius and the Qur’an?  Indeed some schools are requiring students to take courses on Islam and are providing prayer mats for Muslim students.

            Some may think this is unfair to Christians, and it is, but there is another side to this. Why would you exclude Christianity and not others?  BECAUSE THEY FEAR THE BIBLE AND THAT PEOPLE WOULD PRAY!  This a dramatic sign that the Bible and prayer can really change people while the others cannot!

            In this first part of the 10 Commandments we can see why.  First God tells us that He is positively active in history and in the lives of people.  Second God gives us definition of who He is and that we should treat Him with respect.  Third God defines the change that will come into our life as we accept God as the ultimate ruler in our lives.

            The last one is where the world has always regarded as dangerous.  We no longer consider our own whims, our religious connection, our political leaders, our teachers and the views of society as the ultimate rule in our lives since that place is taken by God.

            In this first section of the Commandments we are shown that without placing our lives under the authority of God we are unable to live under the other Commandments.  When we get lost in the “idols” of our time we lose sight of not only God but ourselves and others!

            The saddest thing to me though is that most Christians do not seem to care that children are forced to learn about religions even while Christians are not allowed to live out their relationship with God publicly.  But I wonder if this is because many Christians admit they do not read the Bible and spend little time in prayer.

            How important is God in your life?  Are you more concerned about your education and training for your future than growing in the knowledge of God?

            Remember that school and work is a temporary thing but our relationship with God is eternal.  Which should you spend more time and effort on?

            I feel a little stronger today but still very weary.  I was able to start the shut-in cards for this month.  It always helps to be productive.  God is so wonderful in the days I feel well but even more on the days I feel bad.  Rebecca is off to Jasper and she and Elizabeth are going to the Puddles Pity Party concert the next day in Birmingham Alabama.  Bonnie got the oil changed so Rebecca would be ready to travel.