Ten Commandments - part 2

These commandments pertain to the ways people deal with each other...

"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you. You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor's." (Ex 20:12-17)rsv

I am aware that some religions divide up the last one, then combine two of the earlier into one, but there are still ten, no matter how you read it.

Respect your parents, and by inference, all your relatives.

Do not kill or hurt one anyone.

Never engage in any sex with anyone not your spouse.

Never take what is not yours.

Never lie about another human being.

Never wish for stuff that isn't yours.

Some of this is so obvious that it makes you wonder just how dense we humans can be. All your older relatives deserve your respect, even when they've done something wrong. Are you perfect? Me neither... and your family is responsible for your being here. Show them some respect.

Don't kill people. God gave each of them the same right to be here as you. I know there are times when it is unavoidable; war, self-defense, etc, but if you kill someone, that individual no longer has the ability to be forgiven for his/her wrongdoings. This is a tough one for some people, I know. If somebody tried to hurt my wife or granddaughter, I'd fight back with everything I have. Yet I know that anguish would eat me up, forever.

Sex is sex, despite what an ex-president tried to claim. Sex with anyone, even imaginary sex, is wrong unless the other person is your spouse. God intended us to be modern-day Adam and Eve couples. One man, one woman, acting as one completed person. Anything else is forbidden. Its that simple.

If something isn't yours, don't take it. Wishing for it, thinking you deserve it, figuring out ways around laws... none of these make you the owner of something that belongs to someone else. Get used to it.

Don't ever tell a lie about anybody! This is not to say you cannot tell bedtime stories or fairy tales. Just don't say anything about someone that isn't true. You shouldn't hurt their reputation, you wouldn't want them to mess-up yours.

Don't wish for things you don't have. You can get out and work to better yourself and your family, but don't base your life on outdoing your neighbor. You don't need his house, car, dog, lifestyle, bills or anything else. Wishing for your neighbor's spouse is really stupid, beside breaking two commandments, would you really want to make a life-choice based on anyone's infidelity?

God gives us these rules for a reason. He knows we are easily misled. He knows we will pay way too much attention to Satan's words at some point in our lives. Having these rules "set in stone" gives us a bit more "backbone" when that time comes.

Thank God He loves us enough to spell these things out!

OK, so you "blow it" once in a while. Do you give up? No way! God still loves you! Hit your knees, tell Him you're sorry, and strive to never mess up again. You won't be completely successful (who is?), but you have to start over.

Thank God for second chances, too.

See you soon, in Paradise.

The Ten Commandments

No, They are NOT called the Ten Suggestions!

God loves us all so much that He knew we'd need rules to live by. These rules were set in stone, so that we'd realize that they are permanent. The first four pertain to propriety with respect to God. The rest deal with human interaction. First, let us take a look at the commands that show respect to our Lord;

"I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in Egypt. Do not worship any other gods besides Me. Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish. You must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god! I do not leave unpunished the sins of those who hate me, but I punish the children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generation. But I lavish My love on those who love Me and obey my commands, even for a thousand generations. Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse His Name. Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days a week are set apart for your daily duties and regular work, but the seventh day is a day of rest, dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any kind of work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days, the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; then He rested on the seventh day. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath, and set it apart as holy." (Ex 20:2-11)nlt

So, I am the Lord - your God (I Am is God's name, remember)

Never worship or place a higher value on anything else!

Do not ever misuse God's name!

The Sabbath must forever be reserved for God as a sign of respect to Him!

As Christians, we are "adopted" children of Israel. We must obey God's Laws. Do we obey even these first few all the time? Something startles you, you hit your thumb hard, you fall and tear your hose... what do you say? Is respecting God more important in your house than weekend outings? Have you ever "held out" just a bit, on what you know your tithe should be so you could go to the movies?

Does making excuses make it right?

Put God first! Look at what He's done for you!

Next time - the commands that deal with human interaction...

See you soon, in Paradise!