“For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove. […]
01/13/2024 Daily Devotion – The benefits of a proper fear of God
“When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, ‘Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.’ Moses said to the […]
01/12/2024 Daily Devotion – Do not covet!
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” — Exodus 20:17 (NIV84) We’ve heard the phrases, “The grass is greener on the other side” and “Keeping up with the Jones’s.” If you’re at all […]
01/11/2024 Daily Devotion – Do not lie or gossip!
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” — Exodus 20:16 (NIV84) For most of us there is not much wiggle room with this commandment. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, we (humanity) have used words to deceive and hurt others. We shy away from concepts of absolute truth unless […]
01/10/2024 Daily Devotion – Do not steal!
“You shall not steal.” — Exodus 20:15 (NIV84) Like the commandment not to kill, this commandment is one we too quickly dismiss — we’re sure it doesn’t apply to us. When we think about stealing, we think about robbing someone or their business, and we are quick to justify ourselves because we have never overtly […]
1/09/2024 Daily Devotion – Do not commit adultery!
“You shall not commit adultery.” — Exodus 20:14 (NIV84) Martin Luther in his explanation to this commandment stated, “We should fear and love God so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do, and husband and wife love and honor each other.” Please notice that he referenced the marriage […]
11/29/2023 Daily Devotion – Honor your father and mother!
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” — Exodus 20:12 (NIV84) Please read Martin Luther’s explanation to this commandment carefully. His explanation states, “We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and other […]
11/28/2023 Daily Devotion – Honor the Sabbath day!
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” — Exodus 20:8 (NIV84) God created people in his own image. So besides the innate characteristics of love, grace, mercy, holiness and communication, we were endowed with the ability to create and work. God creates and works, and so do people. Adam and Eve were directed to work […]
11/27/2023 Daily Devotion – Don’t misuse God’s name!
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” — Exodus 20:7 (NIV84) How we use a name expresses how we feel toward that person or thing. The intent of our heart reveals itself as we begin to add actions and adjectives […]
11/26/2023 Daily Devotion – Don’t have any other gods!
“You shall have no other gods before me.” — Exodus 20:3 (NIV84) Starting today, we are going to go through a series of devotions on the Ten Commandments. The numbering of the commandments differs from one denomination to another, but the integrity of the commandments remains the same. I come from a Lutheran heritage and […]
