It seems that now more than ever we need comfort. Not as an idol to worship but as a balm for our anxiety. One week into “sheltering in place” and it is beginning to lose its sense of adventure. In John 14 the followers of Jesus are about to experience a new reality. Their lives are going to be turned upside down and nothing will be the same again. They needed words of comfort then, just as we do today, and Jesus delivers.It seems that now more than ever we need comfort. Not as an idol to worship but as a balm for our anxiety. One week into “sheltering in place” and it is beginning to lose its sense of adventure. In John 14 the followers of Jesus are about to experience a new reality. Their lives are going to be turned upside down and nothing will be the same again. They needed words of comfort then, just as we do today, and Jesus delivers.
“I wish I had….” “I wish I could make…” “I wish someone would give me…” These are all statements that could reflect discontent and could lead to coveting. God wants his people to be people who depend on Him to meet their needs and to be content with His provision. The problem with wanting something so badly that it becomes an obsession is that I end up making that person, that desire, that goal, that object a substitute for God and His sufficiency. Learning contentment is the key.
All to often we reduce the ninth commandment to a simple statement of “Don’t lie.” Granted that is part of this commandment, but it goes beyond just being honest. As we examine this commandment we will learn its breadth and its depth. It speaks to the very character of who we are to be and it reminds us of the importance of loving our neighbor as ourselves, in each circumstance.
In a community being able to trust one another is at a premium. To take something that belongs to another person undercuts that trust and divides the community. What is more, if we truly believe God owns it all, but has entrusted property to another person, then from whom is one really stealing.
The seventh command is all about faithfulness. At first glance any of us would say it is about faithfulness in marriage. But the ramifications are deeper. One who is faithful in marriage is faithful in other areas of life. Jesus would go so far as to remind us that this command had to do with how we even think about members of the opposite sex. So it also means we are faithful in our hearts. There is great freedom in being faithful.
Each human being is created in the image of God. Therefore, human life is sacred in God’s eyes. The sixth command is straightforward, literally rendered “No murder.” To take an innocent human life in a premeditated, violent manner is to attack the very image of God. But what about attacking and assassinating the character of that person. As we delve into this command the heart of it is to respect deeply in all ways one another. We are the image bearers.
The first four commandments deal with one’s relationship with God. The final six deal with one’s relationship with others. Just as God is our ultimate authority, our parents are our first human authority. We will discover in this command how our response to primary relationships can have impact for our entire lives.
God did not create us to be on the go 24/7/365. We all need rest. Not just a three week vacation once a year, but a regular rhythm of work and rest. When we operate within a rhythm of work and rest, we are healthier, more productive, and just easier to live with. Consider your own rhythm of work and rest, where does God come into your routine?
Sometimes we just skirt by the third commandment and assure ourselves that we are okay because we don’t swear. But the third commandment is more than just a prohibition against uttering profanity. It is a reminder that in all of our words and deeds we are to remember that we represent the person and character of God on a daily basis.
The temptation of the Israelites was to worship other gods. In their mind other gods offered more options. We are tempted in the same way, maybe not with stone or metal idols but with so many distractions. Yet when we refuse to let anything or anyone interfere with our relationship with God, there is a stability that is indescribable. There is freedom and security in staying focused on our God.
We view missions as a major ministry of Pleasant Hill Community Church. The vision and goal of Missons is to carry out the command of Christ’s Great Commission as we partner with individuals and agencies to make disciples of all nations.
