Hwaiting Hwaiting with the last of the A.P. testing ^_^

And, as you keep reading, you'll realize that these are just the basics of Christianity that everyone knows and therefore really isn't that important to read, but that is not the case. If you look around, people break these rules all the time. People get killed everyday. People commit adultery everywhere. People steal, rob, shoplift all the time, from friends to malls to banks. People lie and give false testimonies to their neighbors. And it's hard for today's generation to always honor their parents.

Therefore, read this to refresh your memory upon what Our Father really desires from you, and what you can accomplish to get a bit closer to understanding God's infinite holiness and grace. ^^

-Love, GinniePark

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Memory Verse of the Week

"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

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Serving God - Exodus 20:12-26

Ten Commandments Part 2

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.'"

18: "When the people saw the thunder and lightening and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance,"

19: "and said to Moses, 'Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.'"

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."

[A/N: Fear meaning you admire Him, yet you know that He has all the power in the world to destroy you and take away everything He has given you as a way to discipline you and teach you a lesson, and therefore you should fear and obey Him. It's not the type of fear one feels from a tyrannical ruler, but a merciful and just ruler.]

21: "The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was."

[Moses had the faith and trust and courage to not hold himself back and walk to where God was, knowing that God was beautiful and merciful and kind. Don't be afraid to go to God. He always keeps his promises and always has his arms open, and He already took the initiative and paid the price; now, it's all up to us, His children, to return to our Father and His Son Jesus Christ, who died for us.]

 

Altars

22: "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Tell the Israelites this: 'You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven:"

23: "Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.'"

24: "'Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you."

25: "If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it."

26: "And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts may be exposed.'"

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The Israelites must honor their parents.

They should not commit adultery, theft, or murder, give false testimony, or covet others' possessions.

God came to test them so that the fear of God would be with them to keep them from sinning.

The Israelites should not make idols but make an altar of sacrifice for the Lord.

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Reflection

Ten Commandments Part 2 (20:12-21)

The first four commandments showed us how we ought to worship God, while the last si show us how we ought to serve God. The fifth commandment directs us to serve God by being obedient to the authority He has placed in our lives. The sixth commandment points us to serve God in a way that honors Him in the image of Himself that He has placed in every human life. The seventh commandment directs us to serve God by respecting the relational boundaries that God has set in our lives. The eighth commandment calls us to serve God by remembering that God, who is the owner of all things, is the One who gives to some and not to others. The ninth commandment calls us to serve God by being trustworthy in the words we speak. And finally, the tenth commandment directs us to serve God by being content in the knowledge that God is the One who provides for us.

 

Altars (20:22-26)

God now gives to Israel directions and regulations on their worship of Him as He directs them to build an altar. On this altar, the people of Israel are to offer burnt offerings and fellowship offerings (v.24). And as God's name is honored, He will come and bless them. The command to offer the sacrifices on one altar shows that God intends the worship to be centralized in one place. The altar is to be plain and without adornment, and made of stones (v.25). It should be without steps so that priests who offer the sacrifices are not indecently exposed (v.26).

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Application

-We ought to reflect on the Ten Commandments to understand what God truly demands of us, rather than simply matching our outward behavior without thought to our hearts.

-The central alter of worship God directs Israel to build is a pointer to the true center of worship we have as Christians: Christ Jesus through whom we come before the Father.

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"Jesus has spoken: his is the word, ours the obedience."

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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Prayer Guide:

Adoration

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication

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Children of Earthly Parents

Some parents seem to do a superb job of raising their children. They attend every baseball game and masterfully orchestrate every birthday party. Every gift is timely and meaningful. But in reality, there is no such thing as a perfect parent. Nobody can love their child perfectly in all seasons at all times. Children can be cute, but they can also be unnervingly frustrating. One of the worst nightmares for parents is their child learning the word "no!"

Our parents - even the best parents - have hurt and disappointed us (just as we have hurt and disappointed them). Parents are just people, and that means they are imperfect. They make mistakes. But even if we are hurt by our parents, do we ever have a reason that can justify our not honoring them? God commands us to honor our parents, plain and simple. There are no conditions or expectations our parents must meet for us to obey this command.

As D.A. Carson confirms, "This commandment does not limit its applicability to good fathers. The text does not say, 'Honor your father, so long as he is righteous.' Compare this to Paul's statement to 'honor the king.' God wants us to respect the structure God has given, because all who are in a position of leadership or power have been given it by God." By honoring our parents, we honor God by submitting ourselves under His sovereignty and the structure He has ordained. So in all seasons, honor your parents.

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A Letter to God

God, thank You for Your commandments, which direct us in how we ought to serve You.

Help us to obey, not just so that we could be saved, but because we are Yours in Christ and we wish to show that reality in our lives.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.