The First Commandment, Thou shalt have no other Gods before Me. Lets go back a little. When the Hebrews had lived in Egypt they became accustomed to worhiping many Gods. As was the custom of that land. So, when God said to worhip and praise Him it wasn't a problem. Just another God to add to the list of Gods they already worshipped.
However, when God said "You Shall Have NO Other Gods Before Md", the Hebrews had a hard time with that one. "Worship Only Me", was as hard for the escaping Hebrew slaves as it is for us today.
And if they would not accept that The God was the only true God then they (and us) cannot be His chosen ones. And, it didn't make any difference if they kept the other nine commandment perfectly. God did not make this His first commandment for nothing.
He created us to serve Him. God made no mistakes each and every one of us is a unique design. Designed purposely by the creator to serve Him.
So, what are the other Gods we find around in our lives to put in front of God.
1. Money...We need to analyze our needs and wants to make sure that our whole life is not consumed with making money to buy things which end up on the landfill.
2. Entertainment...We were designed by the creator to serve Him. Not consume our life as a spectator or to be totally consumed with being entertained every second of our life.
Now look friends we need to work to earn our way in life. We need to take a break and have some fun. But, when work and entertainment consume your whole day, you are wasting your life away. Yes, that precious gift of life is being taken up with Job, Nascar, NFL, Fox News,Cell Phone, IPOD, Dancing with the stars, Shopping, TV, News, Shabby Comedy, and and and and and.
Get it? These are the things we decide to worship instead of the God who created us and all. Lets try to get back to some basics. Find the time on Sunday to go to church, find the time in your day to read and study what God is saying to you. Find the time in your day to talk with the God who made you.
We have become addicted to gadgets as much as the poor person who is addicted to drugs and alcohol. We have become powerless over gadgets. Well, let me tell you something, God wants you and me to put Him first. And I mean first. Then family. Then earning a living. Then (if you have time) entertain yourself.
If you are a new believer or maybe a person who is searching for answers in all of wrong places why not take a good look at a $17.00 e book that you can download to your computer 24/7. Buy this book and read it. It will help you to find out what God had planned for your life. Remember God don't make "junk", or "mistakes" each and every person has a mission for God. It is us who decide to follow other "Things".
Right now.Click Here!
As we journey,
Larry
Tail Gate Ministries - Good Stuff!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Why The Ten Commandments Can Be Offensive.
I had what you would call a religious up bringing. We were taught the 10 commandments at a very early age. In fact the 10 commandments have played such a large role in my life I cannot remember when I learned them. I remember having to memorize them for Sunday school, but that was more trying to remember what order the 10 commandments came in rather than learning what they were.
Because the 10 commandments have been a part of my life since I was a little child, I have not spent much time reflecting on them. As with so many aspects of my faith I have just accepted the 10 commandments as a fact of life. I have spent more time pondering them recently due to the media attention of having the 10 commandments displayed in public buildings. I had to stop and review exactly what the 10 commandments are and why someone may be offended seeing them in print. I had to stop and reflect if I had just accepted something that may be offensive just because it has always been part of my life.
I have to admit that trying to recall the 10 commandments in order was a true memory exercise. I could remember all of them but trying to get the middle ones in the right order was a challenge. I mentioned this to my husband and he could not understand why being in a particular order made any difference. I thought he had a good point, that it did not really matter what order I placed them in or what exact wording I used to remember them, it was the idea behind each of the 10 commandments that was the message we are to take to heart.
After thinking about each of the 10 commandments I have decided that for me they are not offensive. I would not feel discriminated against or violated in any way seeing them in print. The message with each of them is clear to me and in general I feel they out line a decent and courteous way to conduct my life. I respect others beliefs and accept that not everyone has the same set of beliefs that I have. In fact I think life would be boring if we did all think the same and had the same beliefs.
Although I comprehend that we are not all from the same belief system, I still cannot understand why someone would be offended by seeing the 10 commandments in print. There are many billboards and bus advertisements out there that I find disagreeable or offensive, but I know there are others who have opposing opinions. If I find something offensive I try to look at something that is more appealing to me. We do not all need to believe the same things and in order to co-exist , we do not even need to understand each others beliefs, we just need to learn tolerance. Hey, maybe I just came up with the 11th commandment! In fact, it can be any number. I've already told you order doesn't matter.
Resources:
Becoming Gods Masterpiece....Click Here!
Understanding Salvation...Click Here!
As we journey,
Larry
Tailgate Ministries
Because the 10 commandments have been a part of my life since I was a little child, I have not spent much time reflecting on them. As with so many aspects of my faith I have just accepted the 10 commandments as a fact of life. I have spent more time pondering them recently due to the media attention of having the 10 commandments displayed in public buildings. I had to stop and review exactly what the 10 commandments are and why someone may be offended seeing them in print. I had to stop and reflect if I had just accepted something that may be offensive just because it has always been part of my life.
I have to admit that trying to recall the 10 commandments in order was a true memory exercise. I could remember all of them but trying to get the middle ones in the right order was a challenge. I mentioned this to my husband and he could not understand why being in a particular order made any difference. I thought he had a good point, that it did not really matter what order I placed them in or what exact wording I used to remember them, it was the idea behind each of the 10 commandments that was the message we are to take to heart.
After thinking about each of the 10 commandments I have decided that for me they are not offensive. I would not feel discriminated against or violated in any way seeing them in print. The message with each of them is clear to me and in general I feel they out line a decent and courteous way to conduct my life. I respect others beliefs and accept that not everyone has the same set of beliefs that I have. In fact I think life would be boring if we did all think the same and had the same beliefs.
Although I comprehend that we are not all from the same belief system, I still cannot understand why someone would be offended by seeing the 10 commandments in print. There are many billboards and bus advertisements out there that I find disagreeable or offensive, but I know there are others who have opposing opinions. If I find something offensive I try to look at something that is more appealing to me. We do not all need to believe the same things and in order to co-exist , we do not even need to understand each others beliefs, we just need to learn tolerance. Hey, maybe I just came up with the 11th commandment! In fact, it can be any number. I've already told you order doesn't matter.
Resources:
Becoming Gods Masterpiece....Click Here!
Understanding Salvation...Click Here!
As we journey,
Larry
Tailgate Ministries
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Not Just Another Day On The Mountain
God just didn't have Moses come up on Mount Sinai for an informal get together. God's people were being prepared for a long ardurous journey. And not just the journey through the desert. God's people were being prepared to live in a fallen world and to be separate. To do this would require a set of guidelines that would help the Israelites keep from following the way of this world.
Lets take a minute and break the message God gave first to the Israelites and thankfully to all men. The first four commandments tell of our responsibility to God. Who we are to worship and explicitly what we are not to worship.
The last six commandments spell out our responsibilities to one another. Love thy neighbor, do not covet, do not commit adultery, loving and respecting our parents,
But, you say this is 2010AD and that was 3000BC or there abouts. And, afterall I never did murder anyone. Well, the ten commandments are as applicable today as back then. The first four commandments tell us the we are to worship God in a Holy manner. God and only God deserves this worship.
The second six commandments give us rules to live with one another. We are not to kill one another, or be jealous ove what our neighbor has. We are to love and respect our parents. What about adultery and stealing. Were they acts that just happened 1000's of years ago? I don' think so.
In conclusion The Law was given as a guidline. The New Testament tells us (Romans 6:23) That all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. No one could or can keep all the commandments. But they are a yardstick for us to measure our sinfulness against God's Holiness. He is perfect we are imperfect.
And, the neat thing God knew that and sent His Son Jesus to be an atonement for each an every time we failed to measure up to His Holiness. We each fail daily. God sent Jesus to die for all of our sins we have done and for all the sins we will ever do. (John 3:16 & 17).
We should be the ones on that cross suffering painfully for disobeying God. But, Jesus took our place on that dreadful cross where we should have been nailed.
So Why the Ten Commandments? Every road you travel down has some form of signage, guard rails etc,. You can obey or you can disobey. Our choices have consequences. Strive today to change and follow Him. Not if , but when you fail call on our HeavenlyFather and ask forgiveness. Repent and He will forgive you.
Our Spiritual bodies were designed to live forever. Eternal Life is real. It just depends on where you want to spend eternity. Heaven -hell.
God Bless
Larry,
http://www.squidoo.com/tailgateministries.
.
Lets take a minute and break the message God gave first to the Israelites and thankfully to all men. The first four commandments tell of our responsibility to God. Who we are to worship and explicitly what we are not to worship.
The last six commandments spell out our responsibilities to one another. Love thy neighbor, do not covet, do not commit adultery, loving and respecting our parents,
But, you say this is 2010AD and that was 3000BC or there abouts. And, afterall I never did murder anyone. Well, the ten commandments are as applicable today as back then. The first four commandments tell us the we are to worship God in a Holy manner. God and only God deserves this worship.
The second six commandments give us rules to live with one another. We are not to kill one another, or be jealous ove what our neighbor has. We are to love and respect our parents. What about adultery and stealing. Were they acts that just happened 1000's of years ago? I don' think so.
In conclusion The Law was given as a guidline. The New Testament tells us (Romans 6:23) That all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. No one could or can keep all the commandments. But they are a yardstick for us to measure our sinfulness against God's Holiness. He is perfect we are imperfect.
And, the neat thing God knew that and sent His Son Jesus to be an atonement for each an every time we failed to measure up to His Holiness. We each fail daily. God sent Jesus to die for all of our sins we have done and for all the sins we will ever do. (John 3:16 & 17).
We should be the ones on that cross suffering painfully for disobeying God. But, Jesus took our place on that dreadful cross where we should have been nailed.
So Why the Ten Commandments? Every road you travel down has some form of signage, guard rails etc,. You can obey or you can disobey. Our choices have consequences. Strive today to change and follow Him. Not if , but when you fail call on our HeavenlyFather and ask forgiveness. Repent and He will forgive you.
Our Spiritual bodies were designed to live forever. Eternal Life is real. It just depends on where you want to spend eternity. Heaven -hell.
God Bless
Larry,
http://www.squidoo.com/tailgateministries.
.
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