Thou shalt not Kill. 

 

Four little words engraved in stone by God’s own hand.  These words are listed in the 10 Commandments in the Book of Leviticus chapter 20.   How far is the scope of this?  In wars we kill the enemy.  We kill animals for food.  We put down animals calling it a mercy.  We constantly kill bugs that enter our home.  There are people who abort children just because they don’t want the child.  How far is the scope. 

Thou shalt not kill.  This isn’t just a sentence or commandment, it’s a way of life.  When does life begin? 

Does life begin at conception?  If so, those that manage to take medicines to stop further growth of the eggs are killing.  Those that take meds to prevent the meeting of the ingredients for life from meeting are not killing but preventing life.   I’m seeing many people (Women) telling the government that abortion is a right.  I disagree, it’s a choice.  “Keep your hands off my body!”  The women say to the government.  Instead, they should have said that before the process of conception began to their partner.  Then they would have no reason for pills or the abortion of an unwanted child. 

War wouldn’t be war if there wasn’t killing.  But why war?  Just because people look different than you or have other beliefs isn’t a good reason for war.  Just because you want more land doesn’t mean that you should kill so you can take the land.  Peace is preferable.  Talks shouldn’t break down because you reach an impasse.  Finding common ground is a way to begin any compromise. 

Food?  Is it okay to kill for it?  I for one am a meat eater and killing for food is common in today’s life.  Animals are killed to provide the meat in grocery stores.  (Didn’t you know that?)  There is an alternate lifestyle called the Vegetarian but, some plants are killed in order to provide the foods they eat.   Pests are killed in the production and cultivation of their foods.   

How far reaching are those words?  “Thou shalt not kill.”  Do we starve? Do we allow our already crowded world to have more children?  Do we war on others?  After every war the world has had, more people are born, and the population usually ends up higher than before the war. 

Thou shalt not kill.  Father, we praise your name and thank you for all you’ve done for us.  We ask you look deep into our hearts and help us understand your words that we may live according to your will.  Father in heaven, may our faith grow stronger each day and please bless us in every way. Amen. 

 

 Do you fear God? 

 

Proverbs 9:10 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 

Proverbs 16:6 

 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil. 

 

          We’re taught that God is a benevolent and loving God. He has our backs, and through his son saves our souls. BUT! Do we fear him.  

When the time for Judgement comes, we will be standing before him answering for what we have done here on earth. Have we grown in Christ? Yes, his son did die for us. His blood washes away our sins.  

Do we fear God? Just because Jesus saved us doesn’t mean we won’t be answering God for what we have done. Do we live righteously? Do we strive to follow Christ’s ways? 

We need to listen to what God tells us. I know that I’m a “Work in Progress” and every now and then God says, “are you sure you should be doing this?” We need to stop measuring God by our standards. It’s so easy to pick up a cell phone or go online and go to sights that create lust or greed in our hearts. We need to watch this. These things grab on to us and we’re locked in, spending our money and taking our time when we could be spreading the word. 

Evil is purged when we fear God. He loves us and has given his son for us. Let’s live for him. Father in heaven, may our faith grow stronger each day and please bless us in every way. Amen. 

 Who do you Worship? Or What? 

 

Who or what do you worship? Think about it! 

Exodus 20:3-6 

King James Version 

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 

In the very first of the 10 commandments, God tells us that we should have no other God but him. But are there others we praise and bow down too? Who do we pray to, God, Jesus, or the Holy Ghost? Or are there others we talk to... Our Ancestors, family that’s passed away? We need to put God first in our hearts, minds and lives. 

In the second commandment we are told not to make any “graven” image or likeness of ANYTHING that is in heaven above or in the earth beneath. Have we done this? Do we bow down to crosses, pictures of Jesus or his mother, statues of the Saints? We kneel with these objects in front of us. They remind us that Jesus is our Savior, But HE IS NOT GOD! 

Jesus is the son of God, our shepherd to show us the way to God. He leads us toward God. He never said he was God, HE did say in John 3:16 “I am the way, the truth, and the light. No one shall go to heaven but by me.” It’s through Jesus we learn about God. He is our teacher and I for one DO NOT want God punishing my Children, Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren etc., because of me and what I have or have not done. 

I want to be blessed. To follow God like Jesus showed us. I want to talk to God like a friend and father. We end some of our prayer’s “in Jesus Name”. That doesn’t mean we’re worshipping Jesus, but saying “Hey God. Your son showed us to pray to you. That we want to follow you because of him.” 

What do these verses mean for you and to you? They are powerful words promising protection and guidance if we but follow the Lord God.  Father in heaven, may our faith grow stronger each day and please bless us in every way. Amen.