Commandment With A Promise

What does honor mean to you? Do you honor others? Do you only honor those who are in high-ranking positions? Does someone need to do something special for you to honor them? Do you honor your parents?

To honor someone else is to treat them with high respect. It does not mean we falsely put them on a pedestal, but we do give them a high level of respect for who they are. Some may say we should honor everyone. We should certainly treat everyone with respect.

Honor also means holding someone in high esteem. In other words, even though we do not put them on a pedestal, we grant them higher respect than everyone else. We put more credence in their advice than others. We listen patiently, even if we have heard the story multiple times.

If we take a few moments to look at the ten commandments, honoring our parents is the only commandment that comes with a promise. That is just how important honoring our parents is to God. Holding our parents in high esteem, treating them with high respect does not mean we must always agree with them. It does mean we do speak to them in respectful tones. When we disagree, we speak calmly and rationally. We do not raise our voice to our parents.

Notice the promise is so that it will go well with us. If we want to live a life of joy, we are to honor our parents. We may still hit rough patches, but we do not have that nagging guilt of disrespecting our parents. We might say that by treating everyone with respect our lives increase in joy and are less stressful.

I pray we all honor our parents. I pray we view them with high esteem. I pray we treat our parents with a high level of respect and find that we have more enjoyment in life. Honor your parents. Treat them with respect. Hold them in high esteem. Reap the reward. Obey God.

Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—“so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

Regular Rest

Do you take time to rest? Do you allow yourself to relax and recuperate from a busy week? Do you purposely set aside time for rest or is it a catch as catch can situation? Do you know your body, mind, and soul need rest?

Some people seem to never rest. They are always busy doing something. They may hold down two or three jobs. We often call them workaholics. There are some who are always on the go, not necessarily working but searching to be entertained. Both need rest.

God instructed us to set aside time for regular rest thousands of years ago. He knows what science has recently discovered…we need rest. It is not simply physical rest we need. Science has conducted studies that tell us we should get at least seven hours of sleep per night for good physical health. But that is only one area in which we need rest.

Our minds need rest, too. Resting our minds becomes more challenging. Sometimes rest for the mind can come through entertainment. Sometimes it can come through quiet time. It may come from reading a book. Rest for the mind allows us to release the stress of our jobs and other worries.

Rest for our souls is related to both physical and mind but include another key component. To find rest for our souls we must spend time with God. We may find rest for our souls in worship service. However, a more complete rest is found when we are in quiet contemplation, seeking God’s peace and his will for our lives.

Regular rest in all three areas promote good health. With proper rest, we are physically able to complete our work, we are able to focus properly on our tasks, and we have a peace that is beyond understanding. We become a complete person, just as God designed us to be.

I pray we all get the rest we need. I pray we set aside times for physical and mental rest. I pray each one of us seeks quiet times with God to acquire the peace our soul’s desire. Set aside time to rest. Rest physically. Rest mentally. Seek rest for your soul. Spend quiet time with God. Give your worries to God. Accept his peace.

Exodus 34:21 “Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.”

Who’s Number 1?

Who is number one in your life? Who is it you hold above all others? Are you serving other gods? Do you set other priorities above God? Have you considered the importance of making God number one?

Despite what we may think, we often do not make God our number one priority. We put our jobs ahead of him. We put our families ahead of him. We may even be serving other gods rather than him.

No, we do not want to admit it. But if we stop, think, and are honest with ourselves, we all do it. If we are truly making an effort to put God first, we likely do not put him in the backseat often. Yet, there is no escaping there are times we will.

We call some of those other gods our houses, vehicles, clothing, vacations, spouse, children, parents, jobs, money, possessions, and more. Any or all of these may be taking the top spot in our lives at various times.

Lest we fool ourselves, God is a jealous God. When we do not put him first, he is not going to respond well to us. That doesn’t mean he will leave us destitute. It does mean we will not live the abundant life he has planned for us.

We cannot live out his promises if we do not make him our top priority. We cannot fully experience his love for us if we do not love him with our whole heart. We cannot carry out his will for our lives if we are unwilling to spend time with him to discern his will. This includes corporate worship in his church.

I pray we commit to making God our number one priority. I pray we love him as he loves us. I pray each one of us will seek to know him better so we can carry out his will for our lives. Make God number one. Put God first. Spend time with God. Discern his will for you. Join others in worship.

Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.”

Inside Out

Do you worry about presenting a good image to others? Do you work to make yourself look good when interacting with others? Do you dress yourself up, put on a smile, and change your language? Are you full of turmoil, anxiety, and fear on the inside?

Our culture has become a culture of image. We spend money, time, and effort making ourselves look good. It is all about appearances. We strive to look like those we see on television. We have become fake.

Please do not misunderstand. There is nothing wrong with dressing appropriately. However, when we neglect what is on the inside, we have neglected what is most important. There is only one way to clean ourselves from the inside out—following Jesus.

Jesus chastises the leaders of Israel in today’s passage for doing what our culture does. They spent more time and energy in trying to make themselves look good than they did trying to follow God. Jesus continues in the next few verses by calling them “whitewashed tombs.” They were dead on the inside while presenting an image of being righteous.

God is concerned about our hearts, minds, and souls. He desires us to be concerned about them as well. This is key to remember—when our hearts, minds, and souls are clean, we radiate a goodness that far exceeds the way we dress. Ugliness or beauty both come from the same place—hearts, minds, and souls. They are displayed in our attitudes and behaviors. We can mask them with clothing, but they always shine through. If we want to be beautiful people, we need to start with the inside, cleaning it out and filling ourselves with Jesus.

I pray we all seek to clean ourselves from the inside out. I pray we follow Jesus. I pray each one of us asks God to help us clean our hearts, minds, and souls of turmoil, anxiety, and fear. Clean up the inside. Be beautiful on the inside. Show your beauty in your attitude and behavior. Follow Jesus. Ask God to help.

Matthew 23:25-26 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.”

Oaths, Vows, and Promises

Have you ever taken an oath? Have you had to promise to carry out a mission? Have you sworn to testify or to keep a secret? Have you been able to live up to the oath? Have you thought you should not have sworn an oath afterward?

We make promises and swear oaths for a variety of reasons. We are sworn in to the military and political offices. We are sworn to tell the truth when we testify in court. We make promises to do something at work, with our families, and even to ourselves.

Jesus warns us not to make an oath. He says we are not to swear by anyone or anything. Why? He knows just how fickle we are. He knows we want to do many things but often lack the will, ability, or resources to do them. He knows we will fail as often or more than we succeed.

This is not to say we should refuse to tell the truth in a court of law. We should abide by the laws of the land. It is not to say that we refuse to take an oath when joining the military or taking a political office. Those are required by our customs to serve.

The bigger issue is the voluntary oaths and promises. Take a few moments to think about the promises you have made and failed to keep. Think about the oaths or vows you have spoken and have been unable to see through to the end. We all have them. Some of them we prefer to forget. Others bring up feelings of regret. Jesus tells us not to make them to avoid feeling guilty when we fail. We would be wise to listen to His guidance.

I pray we all think carefully before making an oath, promise, or vow. I pray we forgo swearing to do something whenever possible. I pray each one of us seek to be a person of our word rather than needing to swear by someone or something larger than us. Do not voluntarily swear an oath. Stop making promises. Be extremely careful making vows. Be a person who can be trusted. Be a person of your word. Be trustworthy.

Matthew 5:33-35 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.”

Lip-Service

How do you feel about people who say one thing but do something different? Do you like to be with people who say they like you to your face, but find every excuse to not spend time with you? How long would it be before you gave up on them?

We have all experienced this at point in our lives. There has been at least one person who has put on the happy face around us, told us how much they like us or agree with us, but we hear of them saying something different when they are not with us. We might call them two-faced.

Jesus is talking about that same thing in today’s passage. He references a prophecy from Isaiah that is more than five-hundred-years old. This problem has existed for a very long time. There has been people who will say one thing, but their actions say something different for centuries. God does not like this type of behavior any more than we like it when people do to us. They are rightly called hypocrites—a term for a Roman actor who wore a mask on stage.

Notice that last line. Isaiah prophecies and Jesus speaks of putting human rules ahead of God’s commandments. This is not the only time Jesus speaks of people putting rules or traditions above God. He repeatedly chastises the Pharisees for doing this. God gave us commands we are to adhere to. He wants his commands to be obeyed above all others.

Lest we think this becomes restrictive or constraining, man’s rules are far more restrictive than God’s. Remember this, Jesus boiled all the law and prophets down to two commands—love god and love your neighbor. When we abide by these two commands in every word and deed, we please God. Though these are a little restricting, they are not nearly as restricting as the books of man’s rules and traditions. Perhaps that is why Jesus tells us we are truly free when we come to Him.

I pray we all commit to worshiping God. I pray we choose to obey God’s commands over man’s rules and traditions. I pray each one of us accept freedom in Christ and give up lip-service. Worship God. Love God. Honor God. Give your heart to God. Be free in Christ. Live free. Live with love in your heart.

Matthew 15:7-9 “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 

“‘These people honor me with their lips, 

but their hearts are far from me. 

They worship me in vain; 

their teachings are merely human rules.’”

Stand in Awe of God

Who do you fear? Who do you stand in awe of? Who would you never think of disobeying? Is there anyone? Or do you think you can withstand anyone, overpower them, overcome them? Have you spent any time thinking about it?

We encounter people in our lives who are confident, some to the point of cockiness. They present themselves as invincible. You may be one of those people. Perhaps you think there is no one who can control you. You may think you are strong enough to overcome any situation.

There is a difference between being confident and being cocky. Cockiness is foolishness. Being confident, if for the right reasons, is wise. Being confident in God is wise. Trusting God in all situations is wise. Seeking God’s will is wise. Serving God is wise.

There are multiple instances, including today’s passage, where we are told that God is a jealous God. He desires us to serve only him. We are not to serve other God’s. We may think we do not serve other God’s, but we can be blinded.

We are seeing a lower attendance in our churches. It is through the church that we serve God. It is in the church that we organize people to do God’s work. It is in corporate worship that we are strengthened in our faith. It has been throughout history that the church leads the way in caring for others. Have there been mistakes? Absolutely. But how can we make positive changes if we are not involved?

God has warned us throughout the Bible against serving anyone but him. If we truly desire to see positive changes in our culture, we need to be in church and encouraging others to be in church. It is only by honoring God as a nation that we will see him work in mighty ways.

I pray we all stand in awe of God. I pray we choose to serve only God. I pray each one of us choose to be in church and encourage others to be in church. Fear God. Be in awe of God. Forgo worshiping other God’s. Be active in church. Worship only God. Seek God’s will.

Deuteronomy 6:13-15 Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land.

Be Holy

Are you holy? What does it mean to be holy? Does the image of a perfect person come to mind? Do you think of an older person in your church? Do you think of perfection? Do you believe that only God can be holy?

Being holy does require commitment on our part. We must commit to following God’s will and commands. We are to be humble and pious. We cannot be holy on our own. We must rely on God in our pursuit of holiness. Only he can make us holy.

When we hear that only God can make us holy, some of us give up. We don’t say we give up. Instead, we say, “I am who I am.” We stop trying to change to become the person God desires us to be. Being holy requires us to put an effort into it AND God makes us holy.

No, it isn’t physical work. It is a work of the heart. It is a decision. It is dedicating our life to God. It is discerning God’s will for our lives and following it. It is submitting to God’s commands. It is not thinking more of ourselves than we ought. It is holding tight to God’s teaching rather than falling prey to world’s falsities.

Lest we think the teachings taught to Israel before Jesus was born are no longer relevant, we must know that many of them are referenced by Jesus and the Apostles. The Apostle Peter repeats today’s passage in 1 Peter 1:16. We are to commit to being holy. God desires it. It comes as a result of loving God and following Jesus Christ.

I pray we all commit to being holy. I pray we choose to follow God’s will for our lives. I pray each one of us decide to obey God’s commands and to be humble before a holy God. Be humble. Be pious. Obey God’s commands. Follow Jesus. Hold on to God’s teachings. Be holy.

Leviticus 19:2 “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.”

Trust God to Provide

How much do you trust God? Have you evaluated your actions to help answer that question? Are you willing to depend on God to provide each meal you eat? Or do you store up for tomorrow?

Our American culture has become a culture of hoarding. Think not? Many of our households have enough food on the shelves to feed ourselves for a couple weeks or more. We have enough clothing to wear a different outfit every day for a month.

Let’s ask another question. How much of what we have are we willing to give away? Only 5% of churchgoers tithe. If every Christian gave 10%, churches nationwide would be given $139 billion per year.

Our churches are shrinking, due in part to a lack of resources. It isn’t all about the money, but it takes money to hire human resources to do the work that needs to be done. Volunteers working a couple hours per week is barely enough to hang on.

When we trust God to provide for our every personal need, we can then donate more to God’s work. Some have argued that we are not required to give ten percent. We can argue the Old Testament doesn’t apply, but it is obvious Jesus thought it did. God still wants our first fruits. He still wants our best effort. Does He require it? No. Neither do parents require their kids to give them birthday presents, but they love receiving them.

I pray we all reevaluate how much we trust God. I pray we take a hard look at what we are giving to the church. I pray each one of us will give of our time, skills, talents, and money to carry out God’s work. Use your blessings wisely. Use your blessings to serve others. Give back to God. Give to his church. Please God with your gifts.

2 Corinthians 9:10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.