May 16, 2022 (Monday)
Theme for this week: Important lists in the Bible
The first list in this series: The Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments can be found in Exodus 20. They were first given to the Israelites through their leader, Moses, at Mount Sinai, as the nation of Israel moved toward the Promised Land. They are common sense statements of morality. They applied to Israel, but they also apply to everyone else too. They begin with the statement, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” We could place this sentence, adding the word, “Therefore,” before each commandment.
1. “You shall have no other gods before me. The words “before me” are literally translated, “before my face.” In other words: no other gods, period.
2. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything..” The Bible says, no one as seen God and lived. He is called “invisible” in the Scriptures. Once an image used in worship is created, humans tend to worship it instead of what it represents.
3. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain[that is, irreverently, in false affirmations or in ways that impugn the character of God; for the LORD will not hold guiltless nor leave unpunished the one who takes His name in vain [disregarding its reverence and its power].(Amplified Bible).
4. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. “Sabbath”=”Seventh.” After Jesus’ resurrection, His disciples kept observing the Sabbath and also the First Day of the Week. As the gospel spread to Gentiles, the First Day replaced the seventh for worship. Deeds of mercy, necessity and worship were considered exceptions to strict observance. Jesus said, “It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” He told us that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
5. “Honor your father and your mother. Paul reminded children that this commandment is the first one connected to a promise (that thy days may be long in the land God has given you).
6. “You shall not murder. This is personal. You and I as individuals are definitely prohibited from taking another person’s life. Capital punishment is another subject entirely.
7. “You shall not commit adultery. God’s design for the family was one man plus one woman who produce children, all of whom follow the same example of one man and one woman to establish a home.
8. “You shall not steal. We break God’s law when we take for ourselves that which belongs to another person.
9. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. This simple commandment was basic for the people of God. By New Testament times, it had been enlarged regarding circumstances of a witness’ testimony.
10.“You shall not covet..anything that is your neighbor’s.” Jesus taught us that sin begins in our hearts, with our thoughts. Thoughts produce deeds. Covetousness leads to theft; lust leads to adultery.
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise by Jaron and Katherine Kamin
IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, GOD ONLY WISE
Author, Walter C. Smith, pub.1876
Welsh Melody (1839)
1876
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible, hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish—but naught changeth Thee.
Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All praise we would render; oh, help us to see
’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee.
Theme for this week: Important lists in the Bible
The blogs for Monday, May 16 – Friday, May 20 are:
Biblical lists.
1. The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20)
2. The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5)
3. The Gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12)
4. The Defenses of the Christian (Ephesians 6)
5. The Primary Pair (Love God, Love Others)
Matthew 22:35-40