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On the Outside and on the Inside

Deuteronomy 11:18–21

18 You shall put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem on your forehead. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. 20 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to your ancestors to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.

When this reading came up three years ago, I included in this devotional a picture of “phylacteries,” which is the term for what the Hebrew people wore on their hands or on their foreheads.  It was a small leather container that could contain the Ten Commandments.  More important than what was on their hands or on their heads was the fact that the words of the LORD, the commandments which Moses passed on to them, were in their hearts and souls. (more…)

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Honor Your Father and Mother

Exodus 20:12

12 Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

It was my privilege to fulfill this commandment on Monday.  I got to visit my mother-in-law at the place she lives, the Mennonite Home in Chenoa, IL.  She is now in the same room where my father-in-law lived for a time before his death.  She suffers from dementia.  She asks the same questions over and over again.  She has some memories, and she still remembers me.  She enjoyed the fried chicken meal we brought her.  She enjoyed hearing her daughters and granddaughter sing hymns for her. (more…)

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Humility and God’s Commandments

Psalm 119:65–68

65 You have dealt well with your servant,
O LORD, according to your word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
for I believe in your commandments.
67 Before I was humbled I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
68 You are good and do good;
teach me your statutes.

I was struck by the use of “humbled” in this passage of scripture.  I think the word “humiliated” is related to the word “humbled.”  Recently, a radio program asked the audience, “Why do we like to see our celebrities humiliated?”  I think the answer is that sometimes celebrities appear out of touch with the reality of the lives of the rest of us.  Celebrities sometimes show very little humility, which causes some of us to want to see them “fall,” and return to our level.  It is not very kind of us, but it is the reality.  We want the celebrities to remember that they are people just like the rest of us. (more…)

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Looking at Vanities

Psalm 119:35–37

35 Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.
36 Turn my heart to your decrees,
and not to selfish gain.
37 Turn my eyes from looking at vanities;
give me life in your ways.

Yesterday, our cable modem was out for four hours at home.  The power was accidentally shut off to it for less than one hour, but it would not quickly re-establish its connections to our internet service provider once we restored power to it.  We did all the right things, and even made all the right telephone calls for technical support.  Nothing worked.  We even scheduled a service appointment.  Then, it came back online, seemingly all on its own.  It got me to thinking about my life before the internet, and then this passage of scripture arrives as one of those appointed for the day. (more…)

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God’s Laws and Punishment

Psalm 119:9–11

9 How can young people keep their way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
do not let me stray from your commandments.
11 I treasure your word in my heart,
so that I may not sin against you.

When I read this passage of scripture this morning, my mind went to one of the confirmation student’s questions:  “What happens to you when you break one of the Ten Commandments?”  My answer is that the punishment comes more in this life than in the next life.  Forgiveness is what God offers to us for eternity.  In this life it is different. (more…)

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God’s Law and Our Lives

1 John 5:1–5

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, 4 for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. 5 Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Today’s reading is getting ready for Sunday’s gospel in which Jesus asserts his authority over the “law.”  But Jesus makes clear that he is not getting rid of the law.  The law of God is not meant to be burdensome.  If we just focus on the Ten Commandments, they are not complicated and are designed to help us get along with others in our community. (more…)

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Love and the Commandments

2 John 1:4–6

4 I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. 5 But now, dear lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning, let us love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment just as you have heard it from the beginning — you must walk in it.

John appears to be writing to a woman, and writing to her about her children.  He makes the point to her that the way of love is possible through following the commandments of Jesus. (more…)

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