Reflecting on the Last Six Commandments

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Devotions, Gods' Law
Today’s Devotion Spoken…

Week 6 – Day 6 – Gods’ Law

Scripture: Exodus 20:12-17 (NKJV)

Commandments 5-10:

5. Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

6. You shall not murder.

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbour’s.

Devotional:

These commandments represent the intricate fabric of moral conduct woven by the divine hand. They are not just rules etched on tablets of stone but divine design principles guiding us toward righteous living and harmonious relationships with God and one another.

  1. Honour Your Father and Mother:

This would seem to be easy if we all had parents of exemplary character and skills. Sadly we often don’t because our parents had parents who may not have followed God’s plan for them either. So how can we honour bad parents?

Well my experience tells me, after thousands of hours listening to men from broken families, that we often never look back far enough into our parents past. If under every bad behaviour there is a pain that we are not aware of then we need to understand where that pain came from in order to warrant the dysfunction.

How would we have gone living with the choices our parents had?

The other incontrovertible thing to remember is that our parents are God’s children too. He loves them and He wants to redeem them too. They too were made in God’s image weren’t they? If God can forgive you then He is ready to forgive them. The ripples in the pond from not respecting our parents often extend to the generations to come.

2. You Shall Not Murder: Life is a sacred gift bestowed by the Creator. This commandment condemns not only the act of murder but also the seeds of hatred, anger, and violence that lead to it. To cherish life is to honour the divine image in every individual. Look for the God in those you hate and ignore the garbage.

3. You Shall Not Commit Adultery: Marriage is a covenant designed to reflect the unconditional love between God and His people. Adultery breaches this covenant, causing immeasurable pain and eroding trust. This commandment calls us to cherish the sacredness of marriage and to remain faithful in body, mind, and spirit.

4. You Shall Not Steal: Respect for property rights is essential for the flourishing of society. Theft violates this principle, disrupting trust and sowing discord. Whether tangible or intangible, stealing robs others of their rightful possessions and dignity and breeds discord in the world.

5. You Shall Not Bear False Witness Against Your Neighbour: Truth is the bedrock of justice and integrity. Bearing false witness undermines the fabric of society, leading to injustice and strife. This commandment exhorts us to speak truthfully and to uphold the honour and reputation of others.

6. You Shall Not Covet: Coveting breeds discontentment and jealousy, poisoning the soul and rupturing relationships. It is an insidious sin that consumes the heart with selfish desires. This commandment calls us to cultivate gratitude for what we have and contentment with our portion in life.

Questions for Reflection:

  1. How can I better honour and respect my parents or those who have acted as parental figures in my life?
  2. In what ways can I actively promote a culture of life and respect for human dignity in my community?
  3. Are there areas in my life where I struggle with envy or covetousness, and how can I overcome them through gratitude and contentment?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Papa God, thank You for the timeless wisdom of Your commandments. Help me to honour You by honouring my parents and all those You have placed in authority over me. Grant me the strength to uphold the sanctity of life, to cherish the institution of marriage, and to practice honesty and integrity in all my dealings. Purify my heart from envy and covetousness, filling it instead with gratitude and contentment. May my life be a testament to Your goodness and grace. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Graham Hood

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