Let's start at the beginning, shall we? God gave us some rules, the Ten Commandments. Let's see how we are measuring up (I'll use the dd's version since it's super easy to understand).
#1: Put God first. Hmmm, reading and praying weren't quite the first thing I did this morning, I'll barely get my Bible reading done today, actually. How did you do?
#2: Don't bow down to anything but God. Well, that's an easy one...wait, how much time do I spend browsing the internet, or thinking about what color to paint my dining room? Okay, the next one I'm sure to do well on, right?
#3: Don't use your lips to dishonor God. Okay, I'm not too bad at this. I don't treat the Lord's name as an exclamation point in my stories, or as a cuss word...not too often anyways. (This is really not looking good for me)
#4: Remember the Sabbath Day. Well, I'm not going to try to make myself look good anymore. I've already blown the first 3. I work on Sundays around the house, we're too busy, and God is usually not anymore important after church on Sunday as He is any other day of the week.
#5: Honor Mom and Dad. My Dad's gone, but my Mom's still here. And I know I have failed this commandment as well.
#6: Do not murder. Yay! I've never murdered anyone! Oh, wait, Jesus said that if I hate someone I'm guilty of murder. On to the next one, I guess...
#7: Do not commit adultery. I am a loyal wife...never, never, never would I think of cheating on him. But, again, Jesus said that any man who looks at a woman lustfully is guilty of this sin. (I'm sure He meant it for women looking at men, too). Are there any commandments that I haven't broken? How about you?
#8: Don't steal. I'm not a thief. Except that time when I was 6 and I stole the cherry cough drops.
#9: Don't lie. Okay, I can cover things at times. But they're only little lies, and they aren't really lies at all, just half-truths. Right? Right?
#10: Don't covet. Oh no, I've never visited someone's house and wished for a new house myself (oops...I just lied).
Why did God give us the 10 commandments? They seem impossible to me. God gave them to us as a mirror. Going through this list, I see that I am an idolater, blasphemer, murderer, adulterer, thief, and a liar (and those are just the things that I can name). If I am comparing myself to my neighbor or my brother or my friend, I can look pretty good at times. But when I look at myself compared to God's standard, I am filthy. Have you ever lied? Have you always obeyed your parents? Ever stolen something? Always loved God? Hated someone? Been greedy?
Can you see this? We need to be washed before Judgment Day. If you don't know, that will be the day that God will punish those who have broken the 10 commandments. They will be sent to Hell. God doesn't want any to perish, and so He provided a way to be clean before Him.
God came to earth, to suffer, to be mocked, to die. We were headed for "prison", and our loving Father stepped in and paid our "fine" so we could be free. Jesus took our punishment on Himself. And then He rose from the dead.
So, now it's up to you. If the Lord has convicted you through this writing, the angels are cheering. Ask God to forgive you, and give your life to Jesus. Read Psalm 51 and make it your prayer. (Don't have a Bible yet? try this link: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+51&version=NIV)
#2: Don't bow down to anything but God. Well, that's an easy one...wait, how much time do I spend browsing the internet, or thinking about what color to paint my dining room? Okay, the next one I'm sure to do well on, right?
#3: Don't use your lips to dishonor God. Okay, I'm not too bad at this. I don't treat the Lord's name as an exclamation point in my stories, or as a cuss word...not too often anyways. (This is really not looking good for me)
#4: Remember the Sabbath Day. Well, I'm not going to try to make myself look good anymore. I've already blown the first 3. I work on Sundays around the house, we're too busy, and God is usually not anymore important after church on Sunday as He is any other day of the week.
#5: Honor Mom and Dad. My Dad's gone, but my Mom's still here. And I know I have failed this commandment as well.
#6: Do not murder. Yay! I've never murdered anyone! Oh, wait, Jesus said that if I hate someone I'm guilty of murder. On to the next one, I guess...
#7: Do not commit adultery. I am a loyal wife...never, never, never would I think of cheating on him. But, again, Jesus said that any man who looks at a woman lustfully is guilty of this sin. (I'm sure He meant it for women looking at men, too). Are there any commandments that I haven't broken? How about you?
#8: Don't steal. I'm not a thief. Except that time when I was 6 and I stole the cherry cough drops.
#9: Don't lie. Okay, I can cover things at times. But they're only little lies, and they aren't really lies at all, just half-truths. Right? Right?
#10: Don't covet. Oh no, I've never visited someone's house and wished for a new house myself (oops...I just lied).
Why did God give us the 10 commandments? They seem impossible to me. God gave them to us as a mirror. Going through this list, I see that I am an idolater, blasphemer, murderer, adulterer, thief, and a liar (and those are just the things that I can name). If I am comparing myself to my neighbor or my brother or my friend, I can look pretty good at times. But when I look at myself compared to God's standard, I am filthy. Have you ever lied? Have you always obeyed your parents? Ever stolen something? Always loved God? Hated someone? Been greedy?
Can you see this? We need to be washed before Judgment Day. If you don't know, that will be the day that God will punish those who have broken the 10 commandments. They will be sent to Hell. God doesn't want any to perish, and so He provided a way to be clean before Him.
God came to earth, to suffer, to be mocked, to die. We were headed for "prison", and our loving Father stepped in and paid our "fine" so we could be free. Jesus took our punishment on Himself. And then He rose from the dead.
So, now it's up to you. If the Lord has convicted you through this writing, the angels are cheering. Ask God to forgive you, and give your life to Jesus. Read Psalm 51 and make it your prayer. (Don't have a Bible yet? try this link: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+51&version=NIV)
Then read your Bible every day. You can continue to use Bible Gateway until you get your own paper copy. Start with the Gospel of John, and obey what God tells you. He will never leave you. I'll see you in Heaven!
(I am very thankful for Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron of Way of the Master for the materials cited...my girls have learned so much from them, and have had their eyes opened to the fact that so many are lost and don't even know it.)
