No Idols II: Or Else
Deuteronomy 5:9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of their fathers to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me.
Again, I said in the last post, it seems odd to us in the US to see someone bow down to an idol. It happens everyday, but in our circles it is not seen, even on TV we do not see it portrayed. Be assured it is happening, and it will increase in frequency. Know this, God is not pleased! He told the Israelites that he would be sure to punish them for doing so, and not only them but their decedents as well. God expects everyone to give him honor, but to those who know who he is, he expects adherence to his ways. And with those who lead his people, he demands a greater accounting.
There is a truth in the OT that we think nothing of today. Our sin does affect others. We are not an island unto ourselves. Not only do sinful escapades have direct affect on the lives of those who commit them, but when Christians sin, it often destroys the faith of others. Not only that, but this verse shows us how disturbed God is with not keeping him first in our lives... he says he will punish those that sin and also carry that punishment to their children down to their great-grand children... that seems severe! It is. Sin is not to be thought of lightly especially worshipping someone or something other than him!
K and A, determine to only worship the Lord. You cannot have two master, you cannot serve God and partake in the pleasures of sin. You must choose and God is the only real choice to make. Live for him!
~Dad
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Monday, August 26, 2019
No Idols, Deuteronomy 5:8
No Idols
Deuteronomy 5:8 You shall not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on earth beneath, or in the waters below.
This commandment is specific in making idols... physical representations of gods. If you look at Greek mythology, each god has a statue, a idol. If you take a look at other religions, you will see they too have their idols. These are hand made, crafted items, some very large, others very small. Man thinks up a god, creates a model to represent it, then worships what their hands have created. We saw this happen soon after God gave the command not to make idols when the people of Israel made, then worshiped the golden calf. Foolishness!
K and A, when I grew up idol worship seemed odd, yet today we see it happening in our country. I had a student go to Mexico, and when he returned, he gave it to me for good luck... something I could hold and pray to. In your lifetime you will see idol worship increase. Remember the amulets used in 90's cartoons for special powers... many Christian parents bought them for their children or got them in McDonalds Happy Meals... Uncle John warned us of what the really were for they used them in Thailand in their cars and around children necks. They are a house for the spirits you pray to for protections etc... Be careful not to get lured into a trap of innocent looking trinkets. Satan has wriggled his way into many a home. Tomorrow we will talk more of how Satan has done this in the lives of Christians.
~Dad
Deuteronomy 5:8 You shall not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on earth beneath, or in the waters below.
This commandment is specific in making idols... physical representations of gods. If you look at Greek mythology, each god has a statue, a idol. If you take a look at other religions, you will see they too have their idols. These are hand made, crafted items, some very large, others very small. Man thinks up a god, creates a model to represent it, then worships what their hands have created. We saw this happen soon after God gave the command not to make idols when the people of Israel made, then worshiped the golden calf. Foolishness!
K and A, when I grew up idol worship seemed odd, yet today we see it happening in our country. I had a student go to Mexico, and when he returned, he gave it to me for good luck... something I could hold and pray to. In your lifetime you will see idol worship increase. Remember the amulets used in 90's cartoons for special powers... many Christian parents bought them for their children or got them in McDonalds Happy Meals... Uncle John warned us of what the really were for they used them in Thailand in their cars and around children necks. They are a house for the spirits you pray to for protections etc... Be careful not to get lured into a trap of innocent looking trinkets. Satan has wriggled his way into many a home. Tomorrow we will talk more of how Satan has done this in the lives of Christians.
~Dad
Sunday, August 25, 2019
No Other God's, Deuteronomy 5:7
No Other Gods
Deuteronomy 5:7 You shall have no other God's before me.
What is a god? A simple definition might be what one looks to for control over nature and the future and for moral authority. Some religions have gods for each aspect of life; Science and Arts, Weather, War, Luck/Chance, Of the Unknown, Agriculture/Food, Wine, Sexual Desire, Procreation, Of the Dead, Strength, Of Sleep/Dreams, Nature, Solar System, Oceans, Disasters/Storms, and Death and more (Greek gods and goddesses). The reason I mention these is to show areas in life where we might set up '"gods" in our lives that take the place of the one true God - Jehovah.
What do we turn to which takes the place of God in our lives? Let's name things that can become gods to us: Science, Mother Nature, Alcohol, Abortion, Lovers, Pornography, Drugs - legal or otherwise, Nicotine, Marijuana, Coffee, Doctors, Acupuncture, Psychics, Horoscopes, Dating Services, Internet - bonjour (tv commercial), Friends, Music, Work.... I think you might get it by now. Anything can become a god in our lives to replace the one true God, I AM!
K and A, be careful you do not place the trust for your health and welfare, whether physical or spiritual, in any person or thing but only in God. He is your source for moral authority. He defines what is right and what is wrong. No one can give stability in your life besides Jesus. When you turn to other things, they will at some point fail you. Only God does not fail; he will not fail you nor forsake you! Place your faith and trust in him alone. Make him your God. Have none besides him!
~Dad
Deuteronomy 5:7 You shall have no other God's before me.
What is a god? A simple definition might be what one looks to for control over nature and the future and for moral authority. Some religions have gods for each aspect of life; Science and Arts, Weather, War, Luck/Chance, Of the Unknown, Agriculture/Food, Wine, Sexual Desire, Procreation, Of the Dead, Strength, Of Sleep/Dreams, Nature, Solar System, Oceans, Disasters/Storms, and Death and more (Greek gods and goddesses). The reason I mention these is to show areas in life where we might set up '"gods" in our lives that take the place of the one true God - Jehovah.
What do we turn to which takes the place of God in our lives? Let's name things that can become gods to us: Science, Mother Nature, Alcohol, Abortion, Lovers, Pornography, Drugs - legal or otherwise, Nicotine, Marijuana, Coffee, Doctors, Acupuncture, Psychics, Horoscopes, Dating Services, Internet - bonjour (tv commercial), Friends, Music, Work.... I think you might get it by now. Anything can become a god in our lives to replace the one true God, I AM!
K and A, be careful you do not place the trust for your health and welfare, whether physical or spiritual, in any person or thing but only in God. He is your source for moral authority. He defines what is right and what is wrong. No one can give stability in your life besides Jesus. When you turn to other things, they will at some point fail you. Only God does not fail; he will not fail you nor forsake you! Place your faith and trust in him alone. Make him your God. Have none besides him!
~Dad
Friday, August 23, 2019
I Am, Deuteronomy 5:6
I Am
Deuteronomy 5:6 I am the Lord your God who brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
In a discussion or for a sermon based on this verse, we could go in a few different directions; The Lord - Your God, What is your Egypt, or even No Longer A Slave to Sin. For today, and for the discussion in the context of the Ten Commandments... I want to focus on the phrase I Am.
Remembering where the phrase came into use, we know that God was declaring his authority. "Who should I tell them sent me?" asked Moses. "Tell them, I Am sent me to you," the Lord replied. Moses was afraid to go speak to his people, because he felt he had no authority, and he was right. God, the creator, the one who was, who is and who always will be - the I Am has the authority to declare what is and what will be! It was true for the Hebrew people, it was true for Pharaoh, and it is true for us today!
K and A, The Ten Commandments are given to you by God, the I Am. He has the authority to declare them. Right and wrong is determined by him. Man cannot create his own set of morals. God sets morality! Murder - wrong, Homosexuality - wrong, Sex outside of marriage - wrong, Lying - wrong, Coveting - wrong... Never yield to the pressures of the world or of the circumstances around you. I Am determines your eternal destination!
~Dad
Deuteronomy 5:6 I am the Lord your God who brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
In a discussion or for a sermon based on this verse, we could go in a few different directions; The Lord - Your God, What is your Egypt, or even No Longer A Slave to Sin. For today, and for the discussion in the context of the Ten Commandments... I want to focus on the phrase I Am.
Remembering where the phrase came into use, we know that God was declaring his authority. "Who should I tell them sent me?" asked Moses. "Tell them, I Am sent me to you," the Lord replied. Moses was afraid to go speak to his people, because he felt he had no authority, and he was right. God, the creator, the one who was, who is and who always will be - the I Am has the authority to declare what is and what will be! It was true for the Hebrew people, it was true for Pharaoh, and it is true for us today!
K and A, The Ten Commandments are given to you by God, the I Am. He has the authority to declare them. Right and wrong is determined by him. Man cannot create his own set of morals. God sets morality! Murder - wrong, Homosexuality - wrong, Sex outside of marriage - wrong, Lying - wrong, Coveting - wrong... Never yield to the pressures of the world or of the circumstances around you. I Am determines your eternal destination!
~Dad
Thursday, August 22, 2019
The Ten Commandments, Deuteronomy 5:4...5
the Ten commandments
Deuteronomy 5:4...5 The Lord spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain... and he said:
Again I want to stress the importance of the Ten Commandments. They are under assault in the United States. This is true not only in our society and court system but also in our churches. These commands to the Israelites were not just good ideas. They were and still are the actual words spoken by God for his people to live by.
K and A, as we take another look at these commands of God from the book of Deuteronomy, keep in mind they are Gods words to you. Paul told Timothy that they are good for training in righteousness. He could use them to teach, rebuke, and correct those in the church. Now remember, although these can lead you to salvation, doing them will not actually save you... our faith in what Christ has done on the cross, the acceptance of his sacrifice for our sins, is what cleanses us from sin. The Scriptures, which include the Ten Commandments, are God words to you which train you how to live as God desires (righteousness). Christ is the only way to rid our lives of sin, and the Spirit is the only was we will ever live out his commands.
As in all my posts - this is an overview of what I believe God wants me to tell you, not an exhaustive study... you can do that on your own.
~Dad
Deuteronomy 5:4...5 The Lord spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain... and he said:
Again I want to stress the importance of the Ten Commandments. They are under assault in the United States. This is true not only in our society and court system but also in our churches. These commands to the Israelites were not just good ideas. They were and still are the actual words spoken by God for his people to live by.
K and A, as we take another look at these commands of God from the book of Deuteronomy, keep in mind they are Gods words to you. Paul told Timothy that they are good for training in righteousness. He could use them to teach, rebuke, and correct those in the church. Now remember, although these can lead you to salvation, doing them will not actually save you... our faith in what Christ has done on the cross, the acceptance of his sacrifice for our sins, is what cleanses us from sin. The Scriptures, which include the Ten Commandments, are God words to you which train you how to live as God desires (righteousness). Christ is the only way to rid our lives of sin, and the Spirit is the only was we will ever live out his commands.
As in all my posts - this is an overview of what I believe God wants me to tell you, not an exhaustive study... you can do that on your own.
~Dad
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Inscribed By God Himself, Deuteronomy 9:10
inscribed By God
Deuteronomy 9:10 The Lord gave me two stone tablets inscribed by the finger of God. On them were all the commandments the Lord proclaimed to you on the mountain out of the fire, on the day of the assembly.
The commandments of God to the people of Israel were part of the covenant he had designed for them. He had promised to take care of them, if they would be obedient to his commands. They would be his people, and he their God. Try to grasp the special arrangement the God of the universe was making: If you obey me, I will be your God... they could have the true God on their side, protecting them and supplying for their needs! That is amazing; the Creator of all things would choose a people for himself, his own treasured possession
Yet there was a catch, they had to obey his commandments. How would they know what he wanted them to do... He would proclaim it to them and give to them a written copy. God took a stone and made two stone tablets and inscribed on them the commandments they were to follow. These were the words of life itself, the words of life eternal!
K and A, The Ten Commandments are poo pooed today as just a set of guidelines for us. Even in the church we are often told that these are part of the old covenant and do not apply to us. I beg to differ! They are still the words of life to us if we follow them. Certainly, they are incomplete as far as forgiveness of sin, they were in Moses' day as well. They are not salvation, but they are the character of God in written form. People like to say... the commandments are to love God and your neighbor. They are right - even Jesus said so, but what many fail to recognize is that the Ten Commandments along with others written in the OT are how we carry out the command to love! These commandments are not just good words used as a guide to living, they are the way to life God desires to inscribe on your heart.
~Dad
Deuteronomy 9:10 The Lord gave me two stone tablets inscribed by the finger of God. On them were all the commandments the Lord proclaimed to you on the mountain out of the fire, on the day of the assembly.
The commandments of God to the people of Israel were part of the covenant he had designed for them. He had promised to take care of them, if they would be obedient to his commands. They would be his people, and he their God. Try to grasp the special arrangement the God of the universe was making: If you obey me, I will be your God... they could have the true God on their side, protecting them and supplying for their needs! That is amazing; the Creator of all things would choose a people for himself, his own treasured possession
Yet there was a catch, they had to obey his commandments. How would they know what he wanted them to do... He would proclaim it to them and give to them a written copy. God took a stone and made two stone tablets and inscribed on them the commandments they were to follow. These were the words of life itself, the words of life eternal!
K and A, The Ten Commandments are poo pooed today as just a set of guidelines for us. Even in the church we are often told that these are part of the old covenant and do not apply to us. I beg to differ! They are still the words of life to us if we follow them. Certainly, they are incomplete as far as forgiveness of sin, they were in Moses' day as well. They are not salvation, but they are the character of God in written form. People like to say... the commandments are to love God and your neighbor. They are right - even Jesus said so, but what many fail to recognize is that the Ten Commandments along with others written in the OT are how we carry out the command to love! These commandments are not just good words used as a guide to living, they are the way to life God desires to inscribe on your heart.
~Dad
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Fix Upon your Heart, Genesis 11:18
Fixed upon Your Heart
Genesis 11:18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds. Tie them as symbols on your hands, bind them on your foreheads.
Another school year is upon us! K, you are long done taking classes. Your classes are now learned in the school of hard knocks... but I hope you start back up on your nursing training. A, student teaching, wow. It makes me happy that music part of your life, but may you never march to the beat of the world.
Again I will attempt to write to you... will this be the last of my posts to help you in your walk with the Lord? I hope not! I am not sure what you think. But, I pray God has used them over the past 4 years to help you grow strong in your faith and consistent in your living for him!
Notice the words of this verse... Fix these words of mine, I hope you follow my word and count them as sound teachings, but I want you to fix on your heart and minds the words of God. Read, study, memorize, and review what God has written for us, for you! They will bring fullness of life and satisfaction to the soul! Find ways, no! create ways for the word to be before you to remind you of his love and his expectations. He has come to give life and that, to the full! (John 10:10), So fix your minds on serving God and you will find true satisfaction!
~Dad
Genesis 11:18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds. Tie them as symbols on your hands, bind them on your foreheads.
Another school year is upon us! K, you are long done taking classes. Your classes are now learned in the school of hard knocks... but I hope you start back up on your nursing training. A, student teaching, wow. It makes me happy that music part of your life, but may you never march to the beat of the world.
Again I will attempt to write to you... will this be the last of my posts to help you in your walk with the Lord? I hope not! I am not sure what you think. But, I pray God has used them over the past 4 years to help you grow strong in your faith and consistent in your living for him!
Notice the words of this verse... Fix these words of mine, I hope you follow my word and count them as sound teachings, but I want you to fix on your heart and minds the words of God. Read, study, memorize, and review what God has written for us, for you! They will bring fullness of life and satisfaction to the soul! Find ways, no! create ways for the word to be before you to remind you of his love and his expectations. He has come to give life and that, to the full! (John 10:10), So fix your minds on serving God and you will find true satisfaction!
~Dad
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