As Moses addresses the people he makes an amazing statement. These people were the children of the people that had come out of Egypt and were given the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. Yet Moses says to the people in front of him that day these words, "The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. It was not with our ancestors that the Lord made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today. The Lord spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain." Deuteronomy 5:2 - 4.
What does Moses mean when it says that it wasn't with our parents but it is with us that God made the covenant? The covenant that was given at Horeb was given to each generation. Every generation must renew the covenant with God. It is not enough that our parents believed but we also must take the covenant to be between God and us. God has no grandchildren. Each person must come into a personal relationship with God. We are not God's children because our parents were God's children.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Neither Right nor Left
In Deuteronomy 5:32 Moses warns the people about straying left or right with regard to their obedience. It was a concern in Moses' day and it is in our day as well.
We turn to the right when we make the Ten Commandments say more than they intended to say. We say that our salvation is based upon keeping the commandments even though we are saved by grace. We are neither saved by the commandments or are kept in a state of salvation by the commandments. That is only the work of grace. So then, why the commandments?
We turn to the left when we say that the commandments say less than they do. We say that the commandment against adultery or lying do not have a place in our society. Or why should we honour our parents? Though our salvation does not depend upon our keeping of the commandments they are not to be ignored. So what do the commandments show us?
First, the commandments show that we need a Saviour. We cannot keep all the commandments all of the time and as soon as we slip up we are guilty of breaking the law.
Second, the commandments show us what God is like. When He says that we should not commit adultery He shows us that He is a faithful God.
Thirdly, the commandments show us that we do not have to lie or steal or covet. He can keep us from those sins.
When we read the commandments we need to remind ourselves that we are to look straight ahead, through the commandments to see our Saviour. If we look to the right or to the left we will miss Him.
We turn to the right when we make the Ten Commandments say more than they intended to say. We say that our salvation is based upon keeping the commandments even though we are saved by grace. We are neither saved by the commandments or are kept in a state of salvation by the commandments. That is only the work of grace. So then, why the commandments?
We turn to the left when we say that the commandments say less than they do. We say that the commandment against adultery or lying do not have a place in our society. Or why should we honour our parents? Though our salvation does not depend upon our keeping of the commandments they are not to be ignored. So what do the commandments show us?
First, the commandments show that we need a Saviour. We cannot keep all the commandments all of the time and as soon as we slip up we are guilty of breaking the law.
Second, the commandments show us what God is like. When He says that we should not commit adultery He shows us that He is a faithful God.
Thirdly, the commandments show us that we do not have to lie or steal or covet. He can keep us from those sins.
When we read the commandments we need to remind ourselves that we are to look straight ahead, through the commandments to see our Saviour. If we look to the right or to the left we will miss Him.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
A Day of Prohibitions
In the giving of the Ten Commandments as recorded in Exodus 20 the fourth commandment begins with positive words, "Remember the Sabbath day". In the second giving of the law the fourth commandment begins with positive words, "Observe the Sabbath day". While most of the commandments are stated in the negative the fourth is stated in the positive.
What I find interesting is how we have taken the commandment that is positive and made it so negative. We have added so many prohibitions that we would not recognize that it was first given as a positive command.
Having said that I must add that this commandment is very important to us today. We do not find our rest in the commandment as our rest is found in Christ but by ignoring this commandment we are robbing our lives of the needed rest and restoration that it needs to keep going. Many people who have shown so much promise in their thirties are burned out in their fifties. Even our relaxation is stressful. We have to learn to rest and be restored if we are to continue to minister in our later years.
Remember, observe the Sabbath. That was the command to the Jews and to us it is stop trying to find your identification in yourself and rest in Christ who is our identity.
What I find interesting is how we have taken the commandment that is positive and made it so negative. We have added so many prohibitions that we would not recognize that it was first given as a positive command.
Having said that I must add that this commandment is very important to us today. We do not find our rest in the commandment as our rest is found in Christ but by ignoring this commandment we are robbing our lives of the needed rest and restoration that it needs to keep going. Many people who have shown so much promise in their thirties are burned out in their fifties. Even our relaxation is stressful. We have to learn to rest and be restored if we are to continue to minister in our later years.
Remember, observe the Sabbath. That was the command to the Jews and to us it is stop trying to find your identification in yourself and rest in Christ who is our identity.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Should the Ten Commandments be Posted in Schools?
I am going to give the answer I hate, yes and no. First let me say why they should. I believe that the commandments are the basis of all our laws. The second part tells us how we are to relate one to another. No lying, no stealing, no murder, no adultery, etc. It is important that people know where these laws about stealing and lying come from.
However, I will add a no answer because I think that people see these commandments and think that if they obey these laws then they will have a right standing with God. It should be pointed out that before the law was given the people had to be redeemed. It is always so. First grace then law. The keeping of the law does not lead us to grace but it can show us that we need grace. However, grace will lead us to the law.
However, I will add a no answer because I think that people see these commandments and think that if they obey these laws then they will have a right standing with God. It should be pointed out that before the law was given the people had to be redeemed. It is always so. First grace then law. The keeping of the law does not lead us to grace but it can show us that we need grace. However, grace will lead us to the law.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Happy Birthday
On Friday we celebrated with our two oldest grandchildren as they had birthdays on Friday and today. They are now 12 and 10, one born on 01/02/03 and the other on 03/02/01. The one thing that Moses says over and over again is "Teach your children." I am so thankful that my son and his wife have taught their children well showing them the things of God and teaching them how to love their God. In a world that batters our minds with ant-christian teaching it is a wonderful thing to see children being taught the things of God. Children know that we are not perfect but they also see what is most important in our lives. We teach our children by example, by word and by deed.
Happy birthday granddaughters. May you continue to grow in the knowledge and love of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you son and daughter-in-law for your faithfulness as parents.
Happy birthday granddaughters. May you continue to grow in the knowledge and love of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you son and daughter-in-law for your faithfulness as parents.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
I want that
The Source, an electronics store in Canada, may have had one of the worst slogans ever, "I want that". Their commercials show a guy going into the store to buy batteries and then seeing cameras, TVs, computers, etc and saying I want that and that and that.
Materialism is an idol in our society and it comes from wanting more and more stuff. The stuff we buy ends up controlling us rather than helping us. We protect our new car from scratches, we study the handbooks for our stuff so that we know how to use them but instead of being a tool they become and idol.
Remember, an idol is something that we look to for things that only God can give.
Materialism is an idol in our society and it comes from wanting more and more stuff. The stuff we buy ends up controlling us rather than helping us. We protect our new car from scratches, we study the handbooks for our stuff so that we know how to use them but instead of being a tool they become and idol.
Remember, an idol is something that we look to for things that only God can give.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Sports and Idolatry
This Sunday is Superbowl Sunday and I wonder where the true worship will take place, in churches or in front of the TV? Now there is nothing wrong with sports and even with sports on Sunday but when it becomes more important than anything else then it has become an idol. I am not saying turn off your TV and go to church but to make sure that you put things in their proper perspective. God will not share His glory with anyone or anything else even the Ravens or the Forty-niners.
Watch the game if you want to and enjoy it but remember that it is only our God who deserves the true glory.
It is not just the Superbowl that robs God of His glory. Any sport can do it just as easy, professional or othewise. Having a desire to see our children become the next sports hero can be a form of idolatry. Our prayer should always be that our children will first of all and above all love the Lord our God.
Watch the game if you want to and enjoy it but remember that it is only our God who deserves the true glory.
It is not just the Superbowl that robs God of His glory. Any sport can do it just as easy, professional or othewise. Having a desire to see our children become the next sports hero can be a form of idolatry. Our prayer should always be that our children will first of all and above all love the Lord our God.
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