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A Very Real Sin

"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

While the first nine of the Ten Commandments deal with outward actions, the last commandment deals with an action of the heart: coveting. In fact, it is something we may not even realize that we are doing. Yet God clearly specifies it as one of the top ten things He wants us to know.

What does it mean to covet? It doesn't mean that it is wrong to see something you like and wish you had it. That is not necessarily coveting. God said, "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, emphasis mine). Notice the context is something that belongs to someone else.

The New Testament translates the Hebrew word for "covet" as the word "lust." So how does coveting work? The eyes look at an object. The mind admires it. The will goes over to it. And the body moves toward possessing it.

Let's say that your friend has just bought a new car. You say, "Wow, that is a cool car!" Then you go out the next day and buy the same car in the same color. That is not coveting; that is copying. But let's say that you take your friend's new car for a spin around the block and never return. That is coveting that has given way to stealing. Coveting is wanting something that belongs to someone else and determining that you will get it, no matter what.

Coveting can infiltrate so many areas of our lives?and it can destroy them. Marriages are destroyed. Careers are destroyed. Families are destroyed. It happens all the time. Coveting is a very real sin?and we will pay a very real price for it.

Something God Hates

These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. -Proverbs 6:16-19

God hates lying. In fact, God thinks so much of truth that He uses the very word to describe His character. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). And we are told in Scripture that it is impossible for God to lie (see Hebrews 6:18). Lying is not in God's nature; He cares a lot about truth.

When we lie, we are behaving more like a child of the devil than a child of God, because the Bible describes Satan as "the father of lies" (John 8:44). And we all may lie a little more than we think. A study was done in which people were asked why they lie. Ninety-eight percent of respondents said they lied to keep from offending someone else. I can understand that to a certain degree, because telling the truth isn't always easy?especially when you are asked a difficult question like, "How did you like dinner?" or "Do you like my new outfit?" Even so, lying is still a sin.

There are subtle ways in which we tell lies, such as through flattery and exaggeration. We also lie when we say things like, "Oh, I forgot" (when we didn't), or "It's good to see you" (when it isn't), or "I was just getting ready to call you" (when we weren't). We also lie through gossiping and backbiting. Proverbs 20:19 NLT says, "A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don't hang around with chatterers." We love to dispense gossip, and unfortunately, we love to hear it far too often.

Have you ever had someone gossip about you? Lie about you? Lie to you? Then you know how destructive it is. God hates lying?and we should too.

Jehovah-shalom

So Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it The-LORD-Is-Peace. Judges 6:24 (NKJV)

There's a good chance that most of us have either heard of or are familiar with the Hebrew word shalom. In some circles, the word shalom is even used as a common cordial greeting. But what is the meaning behind this word? And more importantly, how does this meaning factor into this next name of God, Jehovah-shalom, or "The-Lord-Is-Peace"?

Some dictionaries simply define shalom as meaning "peace." That's a good start, but it certainly doesn't cover all of it. Two countries can technically be at peace because they're not fighting a war against each other, all the while harboring disagreements and grievances. They're at peace, but they're not at shalom with each other.

In a nutshell, shalom describes a state of complete fulfillment, wholeness, and wellness. That's shalom. It's the easy exhale of the soul, knowing everything is all right. So what happens when shalom is combined with Jehovah to form the name, Jehovah-shalom?

For Gideon, who coined this name in the Book of Judges, it represented the understanding that the ability to rest easy, relax, and exhale go hand in hand with God's presence. Apart from Him, anxiety, stress, fear, trepidation, and insecurity are the norm. But with the Lord, there is shalom.

Sounds great in theory, doesn't it? But what happens when an unexpected expense rears its ugly head in your world? What happens when the doctor's office calls to say you need to come in for some additional tests? What happens when your spouse says he or she doesn't love you anymore?

It's then and there that we need to call upon the name of Jehovah-shalom, because we'll never be able to rest, relax, or exhale apart from Him. God doesn't want us to live on pins and needles in this life. He wants us to walk in confidence, to breath easy, and to partake in the peace that can only come from the heart of Jehovah-shalom.

Think about it?

What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?

Unless They Are Agreed

Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? (Amos 3:3).

In order to walk with God, one must agree with Him.  In order to experience the fulfillment of His promises in our lives, we must agree with what those promises say?whether we understand how they could ever come to pass or not.

When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her she would give birth to a son, she asked, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" (Luke 1:34).

A pretty fair question, don't you think?  It seemed impossible to Mary.  She could not get her mind around how Gabriel's announcement could ever come to pass.

I love the angel's response to her question, "The Holy Spirit?" (Luke 1:35). That is the answer to your impossibilities as well.  When you can't understand how a promise from God could ever be fulfilled, the answer is "The Holy Spirit!"

At this point Mary could have said, "No way!  This makes no sense to me.  I don't accept it!"  But she didn't.  She said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord!  Let it be to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38).

Mary agreed with God's promise and accepted it.  Then the miracle happened.

Whatever you are facing today, make the decision to agree with God and His promises.  The Holy Spirit can bring His Word to pass!

God's Word for a Culture

Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. ?Colossians 3:20

It is interesting to note that before a word is spoken in the Ten Commandments about how to treat others, God starts with the family. I don't think anything can bring greater pleasure than our families, and few things can give us as much pain. Kids have problems with parents. Parents have problems with kids. Sometimes people will say, "Well, I came from a dysfunctional family." Welcome to humanity. Who doesn't come from a dysfunctional family?

Yet our very existence as a society depends on the success of the family. It has been said that a family can survive without a nation, but a nation cannot survive without the family. Yet there is such an attack on the family today. In fact, the Bible tells us that one of the signs of the last days will be a breakdown in the family and a disrespect for parents in particular: "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy ... " (2 Timothy 3:1-2).

So here is God's word for a culture. Here is God's word for a society. Here is God's word for us: "Honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12). The Hebrew word for "honor" means to be heavy or to give weight. In other words, it is a weighty thing to be a parent. There is a lot of responsibility that goes along with being a father or a mother.

So whether our parents are Christians our not, the Bible tells us that we are to honor them. We are to give them the recognition they deserve for their God-given authority. We are to respect and esteem and value and prize them as gifts from God.

The Nonbeliever's Favorite Verse

For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God's household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God's Good News? ?1 Peter 4:17

Do you know what the nonbeliever's favorite verse is? It is Matthew 7:1: "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged." This verse is usually quoted after we say something like, "Well you know what? I don't think that is right."

This verse, however, is not telling us that we should not make judgments, because in other passages we read that as believers, we are indeed to make evaluations, to be discerning, and yes? to even make judgments. In fact, the Bible asks, "Don't you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can't you decide even these little things among yourselves?" (1 Corinthians 6:2). We are also told in Scripture that "judgment must begin with God's household" (1 Peter 4:17).

We are to judge, but we are not to condemn. In fact, a better translation of Matthew 7:1 would be: "Do not condemn others, and you will not be condemned." I am in no position to condemn a person. But I am in a position to make judgments about things, situations, viewpoints, and even about people to some degree.

"Don't judge!" is said by people who don't like it when we dare to have a Christian worldview. In fact, I have found that the most narrow-minded people are those who claim to be the most broad-minded. Those who claim to be the most accepting are often the least accepting. Because when a Christian has an opinion, a nonbeliever will say, "How dare you say that! Who are you to judge?"

There is a living God, and He has revealed himself in the pages of Scripture. Therefore, as believers, we accept the fact that we have absolute truth from God. And we develop our worldview from what the Bible teaches.

Honor His Name

Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord's name is to be praised. ?Psalm 113:2-3

There is power in God's name, and we are to honor it. Moses said, "For I proclaim the name of the Lord: Ascribe greatness to our God" (Deuteronomy 32:3).

Elijah knew the power of the name of the Lord as he faced off with the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. He told the people, "Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God" (1 Kings 18:24).

Not only does God want us to honor His name, but He wants us to invoke His holy name in our hour of need. Proverbs 18:10 says, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."

Job knew the power of that name when tragedy hit. He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21).

Have you ever noticed that when someone speaks your name, you hear it? You know your name. In the same way, God pays attention when we speak His name. But we use God's name in vain?that is, use it in an empty, idle, insincere, or frivolous way?more often than we may realize. We use God's name in vain with little phrases such as, "Oh, my gosh!" We take God's name in vain when we use it for personal gain or to sell things. We use God's name in vain when we say, "Praise the Lord!" or "God bless you" when we don't really mean it.

God knows His name. He hears when we speak it. So let's not take it in vain; let's honor it instead.

The Name with Power

"You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain." ?Exodus 20:7

Commandment number three of the Ten Commandments tells us not to take God's name in vain. The words "in vain" mean empty, idle, insincere, or frivolous. So to take God's name in vain means to say it in a way that is empty, idle, insincere, or frivolous. And one of the most obvious ways this is done is through the use of profanity.

We all have heard people use the name of Jesus to punctuate a point. I have even said to people who do this, "Be careful. He might answer you some time." Interestingly, I never hear the names of various religious leaders or so-called gurus being used when someone is angry or upset.

So why do people, including avowed atheists, use the name Jesus Christ in this way? I believe that in their hearts, they know there is power in that holy name. Sure, they are taking it in vain. They are violating the third commandment. But in a way, they are acknowledging the existence of God. Otherwise, why invoke the name of a God you don't believe in? Why say the name of a person you don't think ever existed? Why say His name? Because there is power in that name. And when you say it, people pay attention.

Philippians 2:9-11 reminds us, "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

The name of Jesus has power. God wants us as His followers to never take His name in vain, but to honor it instead.

Worshipping in Truth

"You shall not make for yourself a carved image?any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." ?Exodus 20:4

I read an article about a woman in New York who was cited for driving in a carpool lane with a mannequin. She had dressed it up with a brunette wig, makeup, stylish clothing, and sunglasses. A police officer, knowing what was going on, pulled her over and requested to see her I.D.?and the mannequin's as well. Not amused, she told the officer she saw no problem in driving around with her dummy because everyone else was doing it.

Whether there are a lot of people driving around with dummies, I don't know. But I do think there are a lot of people worshipping dummies?or at least a dumbed-down version of God. The second of the Ten Commandments has to do with worshipping the right God in the right way:

You shall not make for yourself a carved image?any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.... (Exodus 20:4-5)

We must worship God the way He wants us to worship Him, because how we worship matters as much as whom we worship. Does this mean that it is wrong to wear a cross or to have a painting or drawing of Jesus? No. But it is wrong when we have those objects to use as an aid to worship.

Jesus said, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24). It is good to worship God in spirit. But Jesus said we must also worship Him in truth.

There is a right way to worship the right God. And God is not pleased when we feel we need images or icons or statues to help us in our worship.