Lead Me in Thy Way

"Thou shall not kill" is the sixth commandment.

Jesus taught during his ministry that hatred toward an individual is the same as killing.

Killing implies more than just physical death. In human relationships, we can kill another's hopes, dreams and spirit by discouragement and destruction of their character.

The value of human being is continually being reduced today. Americans are growing towards total acceptance of killing. Abortions are received without any sorrow. Now our society is accepting mercy killing of the elderly.

Life is too precious to destroy.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night," even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain! Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalms 139:1-24)

Commandment for Parents and Children

The first commandment of God dealing with relationships among people has to do with the home; that institution first made by God! The first three chapters of the Bible deal with creation. The ultimate of God's creation is man. He then made woman from man and thus started the first home.

"Honor thy father and mother."

There is much that relates to this command. As children, we are to love, respect and obey our parents. That of course is a difficult task! Also implied is that the parents perform in a fashion that merits the honor. As parents, we have an obligation to meet the needs of our children. Those needs are not limited only to physical, but also emotionally, socially and spiritually.

Far too often I have not been understanding of your needs and for that, I'm sorry.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:1-4)

Oh, how true it is and easy it is to provoke our children to anger. Oh, Holy Spirit. help us to watch our tongues for Christ's sake! Amen.

Sabbath Rest

Commandment 4:
"Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy."

There is the need to continually remind us of this. We are so busy in life that it does us good to follow this commandment.

The children of Israel were not permitted to do any work whatsoever, travel any great distance, or perform any physical activities on the sabbath day.

Besides being a time to relax and refresh, it is a day of recharging! I want to encourage you to follow the habit of attempting to always attend church.

Church is a place where you will hear the truth. It is a place of comfort and genuine direction. Also, it is a place where true friends are.

Don't get too busy to worship God!

Have a great day!
Love,
Dad

------------

The law is bondage, suitable for slaves. The gospel is freedom, such as children enjoy. The legalist tithes, because he is afraid not to. The believer gives generously, because he has Christ. The legalist strictly observe what he calls the Sabbath day, because he is afraid God will punish him if he breaks it. The believer has ceased from his own works and comes to rest in Christ, the true Sabbath. The difference is, indeed a matter of principle. The principle motivating the legalist and ruling his life is fear and works, hoping to gain acceptance with God either for justification or sanctification, on the basis of his obedience to the law. The believer's principle of life is faith in Christ. His rule of life is love. And his motivation in life is the glory of Christ. -Don Fortner

What Proceedeth Out of the Mouth

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain."

Respect towards others is noticed by others. We are in need of continual reminding to hold up others.

Much more important is our attitude toward God. This third commandment deals not only with our tongues in disrespect towards Him, but also what our true feelings are about Him.

Whatever proceeds out of the mouth is an indication of what we have in our heart.

God is to be honored and glorified with our very being. He only is worthy!

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad

------------

My children do not have a complete understanding of the reasoning behind the rule in our house of "watching your tongue." This is particularly the case when every time they go outside to play, the neighbor kids are using the words that we do not use. It is so important to be "different" from the world; to be aware of what proceeds from our mouth (not just taking the Lord's name in vain), but more importantly what captures the affections of our heart. Is it the things of this world or an heavenward focus? Praying for the latter for our children is paramount to life!

True Worship is by Faith

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is in earth below. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them."

The second commandment that God gave is closely connected with the first. Since we are told not to have any other gods, we are commanded not to make or submit to anything that could give the appearance of a god.

True worship is by faith and not by sight!

Serve Him!

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad

------------

2 Samuel 22:1-51
(1) And David spoke unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
(2) And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
(3) The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; thou savest me from violence.
(4) I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
(5) When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;
(6) The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;
(7) In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.
(8) Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.
(9) There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
(10) He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.
(11) And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.
(12) And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
(13) Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.
(14) The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.
(15) And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.
(16) And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
(17) He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;
(18) He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.
(19) They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
(20) He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
(21) The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
(22) For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
(23) For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
(24) I was also upright before him and have kept myself from mine iniquity.
(25) Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.
(26) With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt show thyself upright.
(27) With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt show thyself unsavory.
(28) And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.
(29) For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.
(30) For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.
(31) As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
(32) For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?
(33) God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.
(34) He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places.
(35) He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
(36) Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.
(37) Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.
(38) I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.
(39) And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.
(40) For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.
(41) Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.
(42) They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
(43) Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.
(44) Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.
(45) Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.
(46) Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.
(47) The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.
(48) It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,
(49) And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
(50) Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
(51) He is the tower of salvation for his king: and showeth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed forevermore.

What is the object of your life?

The first four commandments deal with the relationship between man and God. The remaining six deal with relationships between men.

What is to be the object of our life?

"To give our all to the glory of God, to love Him with all our soul, mind, and strength, and to love one another as we love ourself."

Examine yourself!

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad

---------------------

My Lord, I did not choose You
For that could never be
My heart would still refuse You
Had You not chosen me
You took the sin that stained me
You cleansed me, made me new
Of old You have ordained me
That I should live in You

Chorus
Jesus, You have saved me
And taken all my sin, all my sins away
Jesus, You have called me
Before the world began, to glorify Your name
I was without hope and dead inside
But You chose to save my life

Unless Your grace had called me
And taught my darkened mind
The world would have enthralled me
To Your glories I’d be blind
My heart knows none above You
For Your rich grace I thirst
I know that if I love You
You must have loved me first

Jesus, You have saved me
And taken all my sin, all my sins away
Jesus, You have called me
Before the world began, to glorify Your name

Jesus, You have saved me
And taken all my sin, all my sins away
Jesus, You have called me
Before the world began, to glorify Your name
I was without hope and dead inside
But You chose to save
I was without hope and dead inside
But You chose to save my life

Lyrics by Josiah Conder (1836); Chorus and Music by Devon Kauflin
Looked Upon album by Sovereign Grace Music, 2008

Great Commandment

When the children of Israel went into the "promised" land, two and one half of the tribes wanted to remain on the east side of the Jordan River. Moses and Joshua, the two leaders, gave permission provided that the warriors went across the river and helped the others conquer the territory. When the task was completed and the work finished, these 2 1/2 tribes were ready to go back to their families. Joshua gave them six commandments to follow:

1. Take diligent heed to do the commandments and the law.
2. To love the Lord your God.
3. To walk in all His ways.
4. To keep His commandments.
5. To cleave unto Him.
6. To serve Him with all your heart and soul.

Good advice for them and also for us today!

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


My oldest child started 3rd grade and my middle child started kindergarten this week. We are truly blessed by the education and sound biblical training and modeling they receive at their school. The teachers don't "preach" the law, they gently teach and model grace, daily. The following two verses (Christ's greatest commandment) have become a central "philosophy" of each classroom and the school as a whole:

and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6:5)

And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (Matthew 22:37)