Our Blueprint for Living Holy unto God--The Ten Commndments

God wrote the Ten Commandments on stone to give us hearts of flesh. Do you know all of them? Have you obeyed them?

1. Do not have any other gods before me. I am the one True God.
2. Do not make or worship idols. Don't let anything become more important than God.
3. Do not misuse God's name. Only say His name with reverence.
4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. God worked six days and rested one day. He wants rest for us too.
5. Honor your father and your mother. Show them respect and appreciation.
6. Do not murder. Do not kill another person out of anger or malice.
7. Do not commit adultery. Husbands and wives should not have close relationships with others of the opposite sex.
8. Do not steal. Do not take what is not yours. The cure for stealing is work. Work so you can give to others.
9. Do not lie. Do not say things that are not true.
10. Do not covet. Be content with what you have.

Can you keep all these? The truth is we cannot. Although we may think we haven't disobeyed God, He looks into our hearts and He has a different value system. Jesus said for a person to be angry at another person was the same as murder. He also said for a man to look with desire at another woman besides his wife is adultery. These are hard standards because they are God's ways. We may think that we are better than someone else, but the only person we should compare ourselves with is Jesus because HE is the only perfect one.

Jesus reduced the Ten Commandments to Two:

• Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and
• Love your neighbor as yourself.

To be close to God, we cannot have sin in our lives. He knew we would choose our ways instead of His, so He made a way for us to have a relationship with Him. He loved us so much He sent His son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sin.  When we admit our need of Jesus in our lives, believe that He died to forgive us, and confess our sin and ask Him into our hearts, we will live with Him forever. He promises He will never leave us but will always be with us, through good times and bad.

When you follow Jesus' ABC plan, He will never leave you but always be with you, to encourage, inspire and comfort you. I hope if you haven't, you will. I'm praying for you.

• Admit
• Believe
• Confess

Lord Jesus, I am praying for the ones reading this post. Give them new hearts to love you. Amen.

This Act Triggered His Betrayal-Mark 14:6-9

Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on  my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she as done will also be told, in memory of her," (Mark 14:6-9 NIV).

Judas, the keeper of the disciples' money, became indignant. He considered this woman's act of worship a waste and it's this act that triggered his betrayal of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It would have been better for him if he had never been born. Yet what he did led to the fulfillment of Scripture, that God loved us so much that He gave His only Son to die for our sins so we could be forgiven and inherit eternal life.

Today people, like Judas, are indignant at the name of Jesus--the name above all names--the only name by which we are saved from our own sinful natures. Our world is in trouble but God is with us. He looks on the hearts of those who love Him and has promised He would never leave or forsake us. That is good news for our times. Do you believe this? If not, it is not to late to admit that the way you have lived is against God, believe He loves you and ask Him to help you live your life for Him. Then obtain a Bible if you don't have one. Begin reading in the book of Psalms in the Old Testament and the book of John in the New Testament. I am praying for you.

Thank you, Lord, that what we do for you will last forever. Give us courage and strength to be your followers. Amen.