Lead Me to the Cross…Stealing stuff and a Good Name
Daily Devotions based the Sermon from March 7, 2021
THIS WEEK: Lead Me to the Cross…Read the Tablets…Find the Cross!
Friday: Lead Me to the Cross: Stealing Stuff and A Good Name
Taking something that is not rightfully yours…that’s stealing.
The seventh commandment, “You shall not steal” is another one we like to easily cruse past and “check off” as “kept.” But our image of putting on a mask (oh, wait, that’s ok these days J ) and holding up a bank demanding sacks of cash as the only way to break this commandment is far from accurate.
But again when I take a closer look, I ask, “What can I take that is not rightfully mine?” Answers from a classmate? Time surfing the web from my employer? Deceptive transaction on Facebook Marketplace? Failing to give an offering to the Lord?
Wait, what do you mean? I can steal from God? Yep. Consider Malachi 3:8-10. (But see the promise too!):
8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
Stealing again starts in the heart, desiring to have what we have not been given, or what is not rightfully ours. The seventh commandment God protects our possessions. The ninth and tenth guide our heart away from the desire that leads to stealing:
Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Luther put it this way in regard to stealing and coveting:
(On the Seventh Commandment): We should fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbor’s money or possessions, or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his possessions and income.
(On the Ninth and Tenth Commandment): We should fear and love God so that we do not scheme to get our neighbor’s inheritance or house, or get it in a way which only appears right, but help and be of service to him in keeping it. We should fear and love God so that we do not entice or force away our neighbor’s wife, workers, or animals, or turn them against him, but urge them to stay and do their duty.
One of the ways we can connive to get something not ours is by stealing our neighbor’s reputation. If I can make someone not trust another individual, it may work for my advantage. (Insert political campaigns and politics in general here!) Telling something false, or even spreading the truth with intent to harm someone’s reputation takes away their good name, often with the intent to build up our good name.
Luther put it this way: We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way.
The irony? We usually damage our name greater when it is found out we have lied about another person. So let’s give up the telling of lies, and rather work to build up and speak well of others.
Need the cross? I do. The last four commandments lead me to crawl back to Jesus and his cross and look for his heart and life that perfectly cover mine and his suffering and death that were paid on my behalf.
I love the commandments and I hope you do to. Why? Because they first lead me to the cross and then forgiven and empowered by Jesus’ love, the lead me from the cross to better love God and love the people around me.
Apply: Take the Malachi challenge. Put God first in your financial wealth. Find blessing in returning to God what is his. Enjoy the blessings he gives as you live on 90% of your income!
Prayer:
Lord, your law is good and wise;
It sets your will before my eyes
Shows me the way of righteousness,
But dooms to death when we transgress.
To Jesus I for refuge flee
Who from the curse has set me free,
And humbly worship at your throne,
Saved by your grace through faith alone. AMEN
(Adapted from Christian Worship, Hymn 287:1,4)
Lead Me to the Cross…Do not hate…Do not lust!
Daily Devotions based the Sermon from March 7, 2021
THIS WEEK: Lead Me to the Cross…Read the Tablets…Find the Cross!
“I’ve never killed someone.”
“I’ve never committed adultery.”
We can “check the box” of the fifth and sixth commandment, right?
Not so fast. Jesus has a few things to say to us:
Matthew 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.
Matthew 5:27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Desiring someone to be eliminated from our life…the thought…is just as sinful as pulling the trigger.
Desiring to be with someone sexually…the thought…is just as sinful as physically committing adultery.
Once sin is on the outside, it is simply a manifestation of what is on the inside. Jesus teaches, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander” (Matthew 15:19).
Sometimes we “justify our sin” by saying, “As long as it doesn’t hurt someone else.” I’ve yet to see a secret sin that never has an impact somewhere on someone else. Our hate-filled thoughts turn into rude comments, or short tempers. Our sinful nature loves to think of ourselves better than other people, other skin colors, or other professions. While we may not classify our “looking down on others” as “hate” it certainly diminishes the value of that person’s life in our mind.
And that is what God is protecting in the fifth commandment…the value of life. We could go on with abortions, drug abuse, senseless murders, and more. But let’s not forget what is going on in our own hearts. Martin Luther put it this way: “We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need.”
The sixth commandment is like it. Some may argue what I look at on my computer is my business. Yet porn creates unrealistic ideas of what the blessing of sex is to be like, it makes women (or men) into sex objects and leads to the erosion of healthy marriages and relationships. Think you are immune? Just look at the advertising that comes up on your news feed, social media, or TV. Sex sells and advertisers know it. Lust is not innocent and while it is a sin of the heart, it has potential to affect others.
That’s why God gave us the sixth commandment…to protect and value the gift of sex, marriages and committed relationships. He wants couples to enjoy the gift of sex, treasure it and protect it. Yes we could mention here relationships that go against God’s design for one man/one woman committed marriages, but again God doesn’t want us to “look out there” first, but into our own hearts. Martin Luther puts I this way: We should fear and love God so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do, and husband and wife love and honor each other.
Both of these commandments and their finer points lead us to the cross. We can’t “check the box” and move on because guilt and shame reside in our lives because of the fifth and sixth commandments. That’s why we need Jesus. We need his perfect love to cover our hate and his pure heart to cover our lust. The punishment our sins deserved? Jesus took care of that too…at the cross.
You are forgiven and loved, pure and whole. Enjoy living today as a forgiven, loved, child of God!
Apply: Look for an opportunity today to “help and support” your neighbor in “every physical need” today. Also, if you or someone you know and love is struggling with pornography, check out this great resource: https://conquerorsthroughchrist.net
PRAYER: Lord, empty my heart of hate and lust and fill it with your love for me and strength to always love, value and respect each person. AMEN
Lead Me to the Cross…Honor Those in Authority!
Daily Devotions based the Sermon from March 7, 2021
THIS WEEK: Lead Me to the Cross…Read the Tablets…Find the Cross!
God is a God of order.
“…everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” (1 Corinthians 14:40)
We like to be free and independent.
Which makes following the Fourth Commandment difficult, right? As a child, we balk under the authority of our parents. As a college student, we love our freedom and glad to be out from under the rules of our parents. As adults we struggle to honor the people put or elected in authority over us and simply want to be our own boss.
Our sinful nature loves to be free from authority…even God’s.
The Fourth commandment speaks to a primary order or authority that God has set up: parents and children. However, it is also representative of any authority God allows or puts over us. This can be in our home, in our work place, in our communities and in our churches.
God desires of love a proper relationship and respect between those who have been given authority and those who are under that authority. Here’s a few examples:
In the Church: Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
In the Government: Romans 13: 1-2 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
In our Homes: Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Ultimately God desires that we “enjoy long life on the earth.” This happens when we respect those who hold a position of authority (even if they are imperfect or we disagree with them) and make it easy for them to carry out their role. They also are not to take advantage of that position of authority, but rather use that position to serve the Lord and those they lead in love.
Martin Luther put it this way: “We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them.”
How would seeing the blessing and wisdom in this commandment change the dynamics in our homes, in our schools, in our churches, in our communities, in our country? A little respect of authority and proper use of that God given authority will go a long way to bring a blessing of peace to our land. Let it start with us as God’s people.
Apply: How do you struggle to carry out this commandment? Does it help to know every authority is ultimately accountable to God? Would it help to picture God in that position of authority and honor that person because God has allowed them to be in that position? It’s not easy. Ask often for God’s help to do it!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for being a God of order versus chaos. Lead me to do all I can to honor, serve, obey, love and cherish those you have placed in authority over me. Amen.
Lead Me to the Cross…Find Rest in the Name of the LORD!
Daily Devotions based the Sermon from March 7, 2021
THIS WEEK: Lead Me to the Cross…Read the Tablets…Find the Cross!
No one likes their name to be misused. We work hard to build a solid reputation. We are pained when false information is spoken about us. We are discouraged when someone gets the wrong impression of us, even when they don’t know us.
Our name is a powerful thing. It is a summation of all we are and what we do.
God’s name…even more so.
Exodus 20:7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
Without even thinking we can utter (excuse the phrases to make the point) an “Oh my God!” or a “God damn it” or “Jesus Christ!” and we’re not “calling on the Lord in a day of trouble” or beginning a prayer. We are just flippantly uttering God’s name. (By the way, I challenged my confirmation teacher in 8th grad that “Gosh” was not a name for God. He invited me to look it up…sure enough he was right. “Gosh” is just slang for God.” Dad was right again! J)
Martin Luther put it this way: “We should fear and love God so that we do not curse, swear, use satanic arts, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.”
We love when our name is used to call us to help, affirm our work, or acknowledge with thanks and praise what we’ve done. How much more the name of the Lord.
The name of the Lord represents all he is and all he’s done. The name of the Lord is the center of the salvation story and our personal salvation. The name of the Lord is the one who created and sustains us. The list goes on.
Think of the person you respect most. In no way would you misuse their name. Magnify that thought by 100 and we have reasons to properly use God’s name to pray, praise and give thanks.
Idolatry destroys our loyalty to God. Misusing his name diminishes the power of his name. Avoiding time with his name keeps us disconnected from his name.
Modeled after creation week, God directs his people to a Sabbath rest: (Exodus 20:8): “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
In a 24/7 society this has become increasingly difficult…just to rest, but to rest with the Lord. Remember what Jesus said, “Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Martin Luther helps us understand God’s purpose of the third commandment: “We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.”
A rhythm of physical and spiritual rest is beneficial for our bodies and souls. Long periods of work are not good for our bodies. Long periods away from the Word of God and worship with his people is not healthy for our souls. We have been through a challenging time with CoVid. I am grateful for technology to bring the Word of God to your homes, but let me encourage you to return soon to your community of believers, to find one, or to visit Cross and Crown. God has designed us to be in community with each other. The writer to the Hebrews (10:23-25) encourages us:
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Have a blessed day honoring the name of the Lord and worshipping the name of the Lord!
Apply: Take an inventory of your use of God’s name. Ask someone to help. Are you using God’s name to “pray, praise and give thanks” or for other vain purposes.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your invitation to find rest in you. Lead me to do that regularly and meaningfully. Amen.
Lead Me to the Cross: Read the Tablets…Have NO other gods!
Daily Devotions based the Sermon from March 7, 2021
THIS WEEK: Lead Me to the Cross…Read the Tablets…Find the Cross!
If we could just get this one right.
Like many lists, the first is first because it is most important.
To take this one lightly dooms one to failure on the other nine.
Exodus 20:2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
The Lord knew we would need help to understand what this means, so he continues:
4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them;
OK, got that taken care of. You won’t find any statues to the sun god, or nooks honoring fertility gods, or shrines in my back yard to the rain god. I think I am good with this one.
Or are we?
Tim Keller in his book, “Counterfeit Gods” (good book!) identifies idols this way: “An idol is anything more important to you than God. Anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God. Anything you seek to give you what only God can give. Anything that is so central and essential to your life, that should lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living.”
Wow, this expands the list of things that can become idols (counterfeit gods) in my life. How about yours?
Career, material wealth, our family, experiences, grades, a spouse, our reputation, our home, our vehicles, and more subtly whisper in our ears, “Make me most important.” Even I realize scrolling through Facebook marketplace threatens to absorb my heart in the moment more than it should! Satan loves to put before us things or situations or relationships that he wants us to make more important than God himself.
Don’t dismiss this first commandment…it’s more challenging than we think.
Martin Luther explained it this way, “We should fear, love and trust in God above all things.”
Fear? Have a healthy respect for. The God of the Bible is the Almighty, All –powerful Lord of the universe. A healthy respect is certainly warranted!
Love? Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, All your mind, All your strength. Our whole being is to be captivated by the Lord.
Trust? What happens if I trust wealth…and then it all disappears. My faith is shattered. What if I place my ultimate trust in a person…they will disappoint. Trusting God is putting my full confidence that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that he is the only way to heaven. The God of the Bible is the ONLY one that truly provides a solution for sin and a certain promise of eternal life.
Why put the Lord God first?
for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
The Lord wants to protect his relationship with us. He doesn’t want anything to get in the way of it. Turn your back on the Lord? We face his punishment. Turn to the Lord, and we experience generations of his love and compassion.
The God who promises his love to thousands of generations is the God who invites us to put him first.
Seems like a good place to start.
Apply: What are the “counterfeit gods” in your life? Ask the Lord to remove the temptation to make them gods in your life.
Prayer: Lord God, thank you all you are and all you’ve done for me. Help me by your Holy Spirit to always place you first in my words, thoughts and actions. Amen.