Imagine our highways without traffic laws. There would be utter chaos, more road rage, more accidents, and, as a result, more deaths. Many of the traffic laws we abide by, serve the good of the people driving them because it creates a safer, consistent, and more enjoyable drive that keeps you alive. That’s what the 10 Commandments accomplish. If everyone were to abide by the 10 Commandments, everyone would be safe from each other, property would be protected, and life would be enjoyable.
That means there are certain laws that actually protect our freedom versus take from it. That’s exactly what the 10 Commandments do, they provide freedom and liberation by protecting both our souls and our humanity. So when God says, you shall have no other gods before Me and to not make for yourself a carved image, that means this will enhance your life and protect your soul.
The reason this is true is because, if you were to worship other gods you would be putting yourself into bondage to something that 1) can’t save you and 2) can’t satisfy the longings of your heart. You were created for God and by God and to entangle your affections for other, lesser things would be robbing yourself of a joy and peace that can only be found in YAHWEH.
How awesome is it that God created laws that both bring Him glory and liberate us to live a more joy-filled life.
Pastor Jason Witt
When I first came to know the Lord, I had a really good Christian friend who had times when he was knowingly sinning and I called him out on it. Their reply without fail would be “Well, God is still working in me. If He wanted to, He could remove this desire from me, and I would be clean.” Although that is true, we still have to continue to do what we can.
If we continue to read the next few verses, we will learn that if we have died to sin, how then can we continue to live in sin. Just because grace abounds and we can come to God every time we sin and receive forgiveness from Him, that does not give us the right to continue in our old ways. We also learn in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that we are a new creation, the old things have passed away. We no longer have to live in that old sin nature because the old man has died at the cross with Jesus. He has made us new.
Let us never be put into a place where we sin thinking we can just ask for forgiveness later. If we died to sin, why should we continue to live in it?
Joshua Navarro
What should our response be when we realize that we are in sin? The prophet Joel writes here, “Don’t tear your clothing in your grief; instead, tear your hearts.” Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful. He is not easily angered. He is filled with kindness and is eager not to punish you. One of Satan’s biggest lies is to convince us not to repent, that God is just waiting for His chance to judge us, but as we see here, nothing could be further from the truth.
Just look at verse 14, “Who knows if He will turn and relent, give a reprieve, and leave a blessing behind Him.” You see we don’t have to come to the Lord with fear of judgment, but we come to Him with repentance because He is “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” Forgiveness is in His hands and He will leave a blessing, rather than a curse, that provides for us more opportunities to honor our God. Yes, turning to the Lord will open up more worship and fellowship with Him.
So, don’t wait, run to the Lord now!
Pastor Doug Hardin
Earlier in this chapter, James writes about our tendency to position ourselves as friends with the world, making us enemies of God. James explains that God’s response to our rebellion is to extend more grace and offer forgiveness. Our response to God’s grace is to humble ourselves before Him and submit.
Jesus said those who are forgiven much, love much. When we recognize that our great offense against God has been forgiven, we live our lives in a different way. James lays out what that looks like in this verse. We no longer speak evil of our brethren, even when they have wronged us. To speak evil of a brother is to speak evil of the law and makes you a judge of the law. As James states, there is only one Lawgiver who is able to save and destroy. If God is able to forgive our great offense, who are we to judge others and speak evil against them. As followers of Christ, we are in the family business of forgiveness.
For the King,
Daniel Batistelli
In a world where it is pretty much everyone for themselves, scripture can correct that. In Philippians, Paul addresses this issue with the Christian believers. It is okay to look out for your own interest. We do need to be good stewards over what the Lord has given us, but the Lord also desires that we would be concerned in what concerns others as well. If we are only concerned over what concerns us, then we are not interested in glorifying God, we are interested in glorifying ourselves.
Whom has the Lord placed in your life that you should care about? Pray the Lord would strip you of your selfishness and see how you can serve others and glorify God.
In Christ,
Pastor Sean Boehm
This verse and passage always forces me to reflect on what my life was like when I first met Jesus in a real and personal way. It was truly like falling in love. I couldn’t get enough of Him in prayer, in reading His Word, and in going to church to be with other believers. It seemed like every prayer was answered, every verse ministered to my heart, every message was spoken directly to me, and all my brothers and sisters had amazing words of encouragement and exhortation every time we met.
When Jesus spoke these words to the church in Ephesus, He was calling them back to this very kind of love relationship. Have you fallen out of love with Jesus? Get back to doing the things you used to do when you first met Him and fall in love all over again.
Remember, repent, return,
Pastor Gerard Deleeuw
The book of Job started with him losing just about everything — his possessions, his servants, and his children. He then lost his health and he ended up sitting and scratching at painful boils with a shard of pottery. If that wasn’t enough, three friends came and heaped accusations continually at him until Job reached the point of glorifying himself instead of God. After Elihu, a youngster, spent some time correcting Job, God Himself showed up and let Job know He was in charge and His ways are perfect.
Job’s answer shows he learned the lesson. He admits now upon meeting God, he spoke of things he didn’t understand, wonderful things he didn’t realize.
On reading this, it brings to mind how many times I have spoken out of turn, babbling about subjects beyond my comprehension. Especially when those subjects have to do with God. If we truly understood God — as Job finally does here — we would do a lot more listening and lot less gabbing. May we use our tongues for praise!
Well, shut my mouth!
Pastor Ron Kitchell
Paul, in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, addresses the false teaching that had permeated the city regarding the rapture of the Church. He spoke to them about knowing the times and knowing God’s Word. He encourages them in our verse today that they should remember what they had already learned. How vital is that! Remembering what we have learned, building on that knowledge each day.
I have over 10,000 pages of notes having taught through the entire Bible several times. Whenever I start a new book, I pull out the old notes and find myself thrilled again with the verses before me. Why had I forgotten such a good word, forgotten that verse, that lesson, how I felt the last time I considered it. Today, review what you have been learning, write it down, and carry it with you until it becomes part of you. You will be blessed!
Recalling to mind what I have learned,
Pastor Jack Abeelen
Between the Old and the New Testament, there are 400 years of silence. As hard as it is for us to comprehend 400 years, the Bible tells us that’s how long God’s people waited to hear Him speak. At the end of the Old Testament, God spoke through the prophet Malachi – and then nothing. God went silent. It’s hard to imagine such a long time, but for the people who had seen God’s miracles firsthand, 400 years must have felt like an eternity. And the longer God was silent, the worse things got. It certainly seemed as though God had forgotten both His people and His promises.
Can you relate? When God goes silent, it doesn’t take long until we assume God must have forgotten about us. Suddenly we begin to take matters into our own hands – walking away from God in the process. But, God is always at work in our waiting. Waiting reminds us who is ultimately in control and prepares us for what’s next.
Are you in the midst of a season of waiting? Maybe it has been a very long and incredibly frustrating few months or years. You feel as though God has forgotten you; you’re beginning to doubt. Don’t lose hope – God is at work in the waiting. Even during the most challenging seasons, God wants to point us to Jesus. Jesus, the only one who can perfectly and completely fulfill the deepest longings of our hearts.
If you’re seeking hope – look to Jesus. Seeking comfort – look to Jesus. If you’re feeling unfulfilled and dissatisfied – look to Jesus. Jesus is the ultimate hope and joy even when the wait feels like 400 years. Through Jesus, the wait is over as our souls find rest in the promise of God fulfilled!
Pastor William Del Casale
Job makes an observation in the above verse about the great speed by which our lives pass. In his despair at losing his children, he does not see any good as the days go by. His situation will change later when he is restored and he has more children. For us though, Job’s statement is a stark reminder of the brevity of life. Those of us who are older are more cognizant of how quickly time passes, but it is hard for the young to notice this phenomena as their perspective leads them to believe that they have all the time in the world.
Like the surprise of the prey as it is caught up in the eagle’s talons, we too will inevitably be caught up by time. As Christians, the end of life here on earth is just the beginning of eternity in the physical presence of God. Until that time, God has a purpose and a calling for our lives. He has a work that He wants to complete in us (Philippians 1:6). Lord, may we yield to Your work in our lives, and may we be mighty instruments of Your will accomplishing the work that You have set out to do through us.
Jeff Mericle
