THE STORY, Chapter 5
Exodus 19-20; 24-25; 32-34; 40
New Commands and a New Covenant
The Next 6 Commandments Teach Us How to Love Others
5. "Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land
the LORD your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12
6. "You must not murder." Exodus 20:13
7. "You must not commit adultery." Exodus 20:14
8. "You must not steal" Exodus 20:15
9. "You must not testify falsely against your neighbor." Exodus 20:16
10."You must not covet your neighbor's house. You must not covet your neighbor's wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor." Exodus 20:17
Reflection
Each of these commandments is huge. #5 is daily training which prepares us to obey the first commandment. Jesus gives us the depth of numbers 6 and 7 in Matthew 5:20-30. All six are practical ways to love and honor others. When asked, Jesus summarized all the commands of the Bible with these words: “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40
Prayer
“Lord, please open the eyes of my heart so that I can see your boundless love for me, a love that penetrates my heart such that it gives me the capacity that only you can give so that I can love you back. And Lord help me love others today as well. In Christ's name. Amen"
I had a new Christ follower (and CLC attender) share with me that before she knew Christ, she thought life was about trying to be a good person. So she set out to "be a good person" for the sake of being a good person and being viewed as such by others. As she reflected, she realized that it is so hard to do and was not fulfilling...very little in return, et al. Since she has decided to follow Christ, and continues to grasp the love Jesus has for her, her heart has been changed. Her capacity to love/forgive others...complete strangers and even family :-), without the need for anything in return has transformed her, seems so natural and right and has made Jesus very real to her.
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