The Ten Commandments #4

Exodus 20:8 - Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

In the Old Testament the main day of worship among the Israelite people was Saturday, often referred to by the Scriptures as the sabbath day. In the New Testament the Apostle Paul admonishes us, "Upon the first day of the week..." The modern local New Testament church now holds their primary worship services on Sunday.

God was admonishing the Israelites that the sabbath was not a day for work, but a day that they should set aside to focus on God and His blessings upon them using this day for worship and rest. Sadly, the Israelites often failed to abide by this commandment. This was often the cause of many of God's punishments against Israel.

Today, while our primary day of worship is Sunday, the same holds true. Many Christians have made Sunday just another day. They may attend a house of worship at 10 or 11 in the morning, but after that they use it as a day to go to the store, mow the grass, among other things. Unfortunately, few Christians truly set aside Sunday as a day to rest and worship. The hustle and bustle of our society has left even Christians striving to get things done on the day that should be set aside for worshipping the heavenly father who sent his only begotten Son to us that we might have forgivness of sin.

What did the Israelites do for food on Saturday? How did they accomplish the things that had to be done around their houses? What if they needed to pick up some things from the general store? Well, the Israelites prepared the food for Saturday on Friday before 6. They were able to get things done around the house on 6 other days of the week and they did their shopping on any day, but Saturday. I am not saying that you cannot cook on Sunday or pick up some medicine at the store etc., as there is no biblical command preventing that for New Testament Christians, but I am saying that Sunday should be treated with more reverence than it currently receives from the people who claim Jesus as their Saviour.

So may we keep in mind that when it comes to Sunday, the day of worship for New Testament believers, it should not be considered just another day, it should be acknowledged as a day of worship, a day of rest, and a day to glorify our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ.

The Ten Commandments - #3

Exodus 20:7 - Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltess that taketh his name in vain.

Is this commandment ever forsaken in our society? Of course it is. We here people shouting all kinds of profanities with God's name in it. What a shame that our society has come to the place where they do not even have a respect or reverence for God! Even Christians are often guilty of going with the crowd and picking up the worldly language concerning the Lord's name. We here talk of taking God's name in vain, but what is taking the name of the Lord thy God in vain? We will explore this subject for a few minutes so we can better know how to respect God and his name.

First, combining one of the names of God with a curse word is taking his name in vain. When we get angry and spout God's name accompainied with a curse word we are, in effect, blaming God for whatever just took place. If you hit your finger with the hammer while driving a nail into the wall I am sure God had nothing to do with your poor aim. That is just one of many examples of situations in which I have heard people use the name of the Lord in vain.

Second, saying God's name in a sentence that does not involve Him. For instance, someone says something that you think is funny and you reply, "_ _ _ man that was funny." (the spaces represent God, but I don't want to be guilty of acting out what I am currently condemning on my own post) Including God in your conversation in such an irreverant way is an example of taking the name of God in vain.

Third, there are phrases that have penetrated even Christian people's vocabulary. Phrases such as, "O my _ _ _ _ _" (the word is lordy. I Know that it seems silly to put the words in parenthesis instead of the actual phrase, but I am trying to be above board). Another phrase is, "O my _ _ _, that is cool" (God). Yet another is, "_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, man" (Jesus Christ) . These are just some of the many different phrases that I have heard said by even Christian people that claim they love God and respect His laws.

May we choose more carefully our words as we speak and conversate with others.

The Ten Commandments - #1 & #2

Exodus 20:3-6 - Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jelous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth genration of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

While we do not often here of modern civilizations bowing down before idols of gold, silver, or brass, idol worship is as alive as it was in the day in which Moses delivered the ten commandments to the children of Israel. Notice God's first commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." The truth is, if many Christians were honest with themselves they would freely admit that there are at least in their lives that they allow something to take precedence over God.

Sports, television, money, and weekends at the lake or beach are just some of the things that often become more important to Christians than God. While many Christians have no problem watching 3 hours of primetime television each evening they somehow find it difficult to pick up their Bible for more than five minutes, praying for more than 10 minutes is a hassle, and going to church more than twice a week is considered a bother.

Why is this? The truth is, because Christians are putting other gods before the One, True, and Living God. Let me encourage you not to put other gods before Jesus Christ, but make him your number one priority. You will find that spending time with God is the most refreshing part of your day.