Thursday March 13th

Thursday, March 13 — Psalm 35:19-28, Exodus 19:10-20:21; Matthew 23:23-32

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S (SCRIPTURE): Exodus 20:1-3
1 Then God gave the people all these instructions: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. 3 “You must not have any other god but me.

O (OBSERVATION): In the midst of applying boundaries within the covenant relationship...God set a clear boundary of approaching God's presence on the top of Mount Sinai.  God again establishes boundaries in the vertical relationship of us and God and the horizontal relationship between us and our neighbors.

A (APPLICATION):  I laughed years ago when Steven Colbert (the Colbert Report) went and interviewed congressional members who made a big hub bub about having the 10 commandments removed from the courthouse of some state.  In their frenzy to bash a disintegrating moral value of the country and state by removing the 10 commandments....Steven asked a simple question: "Congressmen, can you name the 10 commandments?" You know what came next was an absolute shock to no one.  The Congressional member was able to name 3 out of the 10. Hypocrisy at its best.  These commandments are not mere suggestions or political points to be scored they are to live in the hearts of the people God gives them.

Each command begins as a reminder that God is the Lord, in charge of our lives, we are not to follow anyone else because everyone else will lead us astray.  I am the Lord your God you shall have no other gods before you.  What does this mean "We are to love, fear, and trust God above all else."

Yet our lives are filled with other gods, be it the amount of time, money, resources, energy and passion we give to everything but God.  A friend of mine told me if you want me to help your relationship with god show me your calendar and your checkbook. He did so because those are two things that seem to be the ones that get in the way of our relationship that flows from God being in charge of our lives and setting boundaries for us to live long and prosperous lives in God's presence.

P (PRAYER): Lord remind us that you are our God, in subtle and grandiose ways, that our eyes seek first your kingdom before our own wants and desires. Because you O Lord know what is best for our lives....even if it means sacrificing our time, resources, money and ultimately giving our lives into your hands.