Gospel Journey

Commandments 5 & 6

Welcome to the GOSPEL JOURNEY. This week we'll be working through the sentence: Sin cannot be paid for by good works. For this week's devotionals, we'll tackle two of the commandments each day. These posts are to help you engage with the central message of the Bible. Comment. Question. Agree. Disagree. Either way, let us know what you think.

Honor your father and your mother. (Exodus 20:12) God calls us to show honor to our parents. Check out Ephesians 6:1-9 and answer these questions:

1. How should we respond to our parents?
2. Verse two indicates that parents may struggle at times. Does this dismiss the first verse?
3. Take a look at the context. How is our relationship with parents like other authority structures? Is authority a bad thing?

God gave each of us our specific parents. When we decide to disrespect them, we rebel against the authority God has established for our lives, and therefore rebel against His authority.

Do not murder (Exodus 20:13). Most people sigh relief when confronted with this commandment. But Jesus explained the heart behind the command in Matthew 5:21-24. Take a look at that passage and answer these questions:

1. What is at the heart issue of murder?
2. Should a believer come before God in worship if he/she is angry? What should he/she do?
3. Who should work to reduce anger?

God has created each of us in His image. Even when we just tell someone they are worthless or wish ill upon them, we are discarding that which God considers precious. Matthew 18:21-35 also explains that when I am angry it proves that I am not keeping perspective of the grace God has shown me. When I am angry at someone, I am really displaying pride; pride that I think I am better than the other person and pride that I think I don't really need God's grace.

If you stood before God, just based on these two commandments, could you claim you were righteous in His sight? Apart from Christ, none of us can.

posted by danny2 @ 9:16 PM