Friday, April 29, 2005

Presenting The Commandments? Taken From Luther's Little Instruction Book (The Small Catechism Of Martin Luther). The Ten Commandments: The Simple Way a Father Should Present Them to His Household The First Commandment - You must not have other gods. Question. What does this mean? Answer.  We must fear, love, and trust God more than anything else. The Second Commandment - You must not misuse your God's name. Question. What does this mean? Answer. We must fear and love God, so that we will not use His name to curse, swear, cast a spell, lie or deceive, but will use it to call upon Him, pray to Him, praise Him and thank Him in all times of trouble. The Third Commandment - You must keep the Sabbath holy. Question. What does this mean? Answer. We must fear and love God, so that we will not look down on preaching or God's Word, but consider it holy, listen to it willingly, and learn it. The Fourth Commandment - You must honor your father and mother. [So that things will go well for you and you will live long on earth]. Question. What does this mean? Answer. We must fear and love God, so that we will neither look down on our parents or superiors nor irritate them, but will honor them, serve them, obey them, love them and value them. The Fifth Commandment - You must not kill. Question. What does this mean? Answer. We must fear and love God, so that we will neither harm nor hurt our neighbor's body, but help him and care for him when he is ill. The Sixth Commandment - You must not commit adultery. Question. What does this mean? Answer. We must fear and love God, so that our words and actions will be clean and decent and so that everyone will love and honor their spouses. The Seventh Commandment - You must not steal. Question. What does this mean? Answer. We must fear and love God, so that we will neither take our neighbor's money or property, nor acquire it by fraud or by selling him poorly made products, but will help him improve and protect his property and career. The Eighth Commandment - You must not tell lies about your neighbor. Question. What does this mean? Answer.  We must fear and love God, so that we will not deceive by lying, betraying, slandering or ruining our neighbor's reputation, but will defend him, say good things about him, and see the best side of everything he does. The Ninth Commandment - You must not desire your neighbor's house. Question. What does this mean? Answer.  We must fear and love God, so that we will not attempt to trick our neighbor out of his inheritance or house, take it by pretending to have a right to it, etc. but help him to keep & improve it. The Tenth Commandment - You must not desire your neighbor's wife, servant, maid, animals or anything that belongs to him. Question. What does this mean? Answer.  We must fear and love God, so that we will not release his cattle, take his employees from him or seduce his wife, but urge them to stay and do what they ought to do. The Conclusion to the Commandments Question. What does God say to us about all these commandments? Answer. This is what He says:  "I am the Lord Your God. I am a jealous God. I plague the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those who hate me with their ancestor's sin. But I make whole those who love me for a thousand generations." Question. What does it mean? Answer.  God threatens to punish everyone who breaks these commandments. We should be afraid of His anger because of this and not violate such commandments. But He promises grace and all good things to those who keep such commandments. Because of this, we, too, should love Him, trust Him, and willingly do what His commandments require. This text was translated in 1994 for Project Wittenberg by Robert E. Smith and is in the public domain. 1:00:45 PM    comment []

Is Your Life Uncertain Yet? The Graciousness Of Uncertainty It doth not yet appear what we shall be. 1 John 3:2   Naturally, we are inclined to be so mathematical and calculating that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We imagine that we have to reach some end, but that is not the nature of spiritual life. The nature of spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty, consequently we do not make our nests anywhere. Common sense says - "Well, supposing I were in that condition . . ." We cannot suppose ourselves in any condition we have never been in. Certainty is the mark of the common-sense life: gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness, it should be rather an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. Immediately we abandon to God, and do the duty that lies nearest, He packs our life with surprises all the time. When we become advocates of a creed, something dies; we do not believe God, we only believe our belief about Him. Jesus said, "Except ye become as little children." Spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, but uncertain of what He is going to do next. If we are only certain in our beliefs, we get dignified and severe and have the ban of finality about our views; but when we are rightly related to God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy.   "Believe also in Me," said Jesus, not - "Believe certain things about Me." Leave the whole thing to Him, it is gloriously uncertain how He will come in, but He will come. Remain loyal to Him.   Taken From My Utmost For His Highest By Oswald Chambers. 6:07:59 AM    comment []