| THIS SUNDAY we conclude our Summertime 'Suggestions' worship series with the last of what are known as the Ten Commandments with one that is known by many who have some sort of exposure to the Christian faith, even if it's one we rationalize away by wondering what could be the harm in wanting something you do not already have?
Yes, the scriptures tell us we should not covet anything belonging to someone else, but does it really matter as long as we do not act upon those urges? My neighbor may, indeed, have something that I really want - what is wrong with wanting to add to or upgrade what you have?
Well, as we do so often when dealing with the various items in the Ten Commandments, we get more focused on the obedience thereto (or lack of obedience, as the case may be from time to time) and miss just how deeply violations of these commandments help to corrupt our entire lives inwardly and outwardly.
As the author of our just-completed Wednesday Night Bible said in the readings for our last session, "No one has ever done anything that is out of character." That sentiment is at work in our fealty (or lack thereof) to the commandments, for what we, I hope, have discovered this summer is that the Ten Commandments have little to nothing to do with rules and everything to do with the shaping of our souls and our lives to embodying Jesus' command to, "Love the Lord your God with [everything you have] and your neighbor as yourself."
Come join us and bring a friend! |
