We Shall Not Be Covetous

What do we want?

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.” EXODUS 20:17

“The last commandment condemns covetousness. Every selfish desire, every degree of discontent, every act of overreaching, every selfish gratification works to the strengthening and developing of a character which will destroy the Christlikeness of the human agent, and close the gates of the city of God against him/her.”

“When . . . angels come to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation and witness the exhibition of selfishness, of covetousness, of overreaching, and benefiting self at other’s disadvantage they turn away in grief. . . . In no way could the Lord be better glorified and the truth more highly honored, than for unbelievers to see that the truth has wrought a great and good work upon the lives of naturally covetous and penurious men. If it could be seen that the faith of such had the influence to mold their characters, to change them from close, selfish, overreaching, money-loving men, to men who love to do good, who seek opportunities to use their means to bless those who need to be blessed, who visit the widow and fatherless in their affliction, and who keep themselves unspotted from the world, it would be evidence that their religion was genuine. . . . Those who profess to be waiting and watching for the appearing of their Lord shall not disgrace their profession by bantering in a deal and standing for the last penny. Such fruit does not grow upon the Christian tree.

“The tenth commandment strikes at the very root of all sins, prohibiting the selfish desire, from which springs the sinful act. He who in obedience to God’s law refrains from indulging even a sinful desire for that which belongs to another, will not be guilty of an act of wrong toward his fellow-creatures.”

We Shall Not Steal

“We shall not steal.”

“Thou shalt not steal” Exodus 20:15

“Both public and private sins are included in this prohibition. The eighth commandment condemns man-stealing and slave-dealing and forbids war of conquest. It condemns theft and robbery. It demands strict integrity in the minutest details of the affairs of life. It forbids overreaching in trade and requires the payment of just debts or wages. It declares that every attempt to advantage one’s self by the ignorance, weakness, or misfortune of another, is registered as fraud in the books of heaven.

“The eighth commandment is to barricade the soul, and hedge man in, so that he shall make no injurious encroachment – which his self-love and desire for gain would make on his neighbor’s rights. It forbids every species of dishonesty, injustice, or fraud, however prevalent, however, palliated by plausible pretenses.

“Thou shalt not steal” was written by the finger of God upon the tables of stone, yet how much-underhanded stealing of affections is practiced and excused. A deceptive courtship is maintained, private communications are kept up, until the affections of one who is inexperienced and knows not whereunto these things may grow, are in a measure withdrawn from her parents and placed upon him who shows by the very course he pursues that he is unworthy of her love. The Bible condemns every species of dishonesty.

“To trifle with hearts is a crime of no small magnitude in the sight of a holy God.”

“As we deal with our fellow men in petty dishonesty or in more daring fraud, so will we deal with God. Men who persist in a course of dishonesty will carry out their principles until they cheat their own souls and lose heaven and eternal life.

“So long as heaven and earth continue, the holy principles of God’s law will . . . continue, a source of blessing, sending forth streams to refresh the earth.”

We Shall Be Pure

PURE as SPRING WATER

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14

(Don’t even “think” of stealing someone or some thing that belongs to your neighbor!)

“This commandment forbids not only acts of impurity, but sensual thoughts and desires, or any practice that tends to excite them. Purity is demanded not only in the outward life but in the secret intents and emotions of the heart. Christ, who taught the far-reaching obligation of the law of God, declared the evil thought or look to be as truly sin as is the unlawful deed.”

“When the thought of evil is loved and cherished, however secretly said Jesus, it shows that sin still reigns in the heart. The soul is still in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. He who finds pleasure in dwelling upon scenes of impurity, who indulges the evil thought, the lustful look, may behold in the open sin, with its burden of shame and heartbreaking grief, the true nature of the evil which he has hidden in the chambers of the soul. The season of temptation, under which, it may be, one falls into grievous sin, does not create the evil that is revealed, but only develops or makes manifest that which was hidden and latent in the heart. As a man “thinketh in his heart, so is he”‘ for out of the heart “are the issues of life.” The heart in which Christ dwells will be so filled, so satisfied with His love that it will not be consumed with longing to attract sympathy and attention to itself. And through the surrender of the soul to God, His wisdom can accomplish what human wisdom fails to do.”

“So long as life shall last, there will be need of guarding the affections and the passions with a firm purpose. Not one moment can we be secure except as we rely upon God, the life hidden with Christ.

“The nearer we live to Jesus, the more will we partake of His pure and holy character; and the more offensive sin appears to us, the more exalted and desirable will appear the purity and brightness of Christ.”

Sons and Daughters of God for February 25, 2022, by Ellen White

P.S. Because Jesus wrote the book of REVELATION, we have a wonderful SHOCK quality coming soon,

Rev_22:12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Rev_22:20  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Be ready to meet your Maker. . . .

We Shall Not Kill

“The law of God takes note of the jealousy, envy, hatred, and malignity, revenge, lust, and ambition that surge through the soul, but have not found expression in outward action, because of the opportunity, not the will, has been wanting. And these sinful emotions will be brought into account in the day when “God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing.”

“Christ is righteousness, sanctification, and redemption to those who believe in Him. . . . He set before us a perfect example of holy obedience to God’s law.”

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. . . .

Killing does not solve a problem, it creates more problems.

God’s justice, in God’s time, . . . is worth waiting for.

For February 24, 2022

Promises to All Who Keep God’s Law of Love: Long Life Promised for Honoring Parents

Honoring Parents bring LONG LIFE! Photo by Emma Bauso on Pexels.com

Dan 12:4  But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. 

Exo 20:12  Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 

Has THE BOOK been sealed so long. . .we have forgotten to HONOR our Mother and Father? Or have we become so engaged with ourselves, we have forgotten all the self-sacrifice it took for them to send us to college?

Parents are entitled to a degree of love and respect which is due to no other person. God Himself, who has placed upon them a responsibility for the souls committed to their charge, has ordained that during the earlier years of life, parents shall stand in the place of God to their children not only to yield respect, submission, and obedience to their parents, but also to give them love and tenderness, to lighten their cares, to guard their reputation, and to succor and comfort them in old age.”

The fifth commandment is binding upon children as long as their own lives and the lives of their parents are spared.

Promises to All Who Keep God’s Law of Love: We Shall Keep the Sabbath Day Holy

Jesus interacting with His Disciples gives us reason to understand how “we”/they needed to be guided.

“Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it Holy.” Exodus 20:8

Jesus was raised like the Jewish sons in his days, to learn how to read write and take part in studying the scrolls of scripture. Sabbath was a holy day for fathers to spend time with their sons. . . examining and asking questions about what the prophecies were.

How did Jesus come to understand, he was the special son, born in Bethlehem, funded by the Wise men from the East, rushed to Egypt to avoid the death of the children brought on by King Herod. Jesus understood, The Holy Scriptures, pointed to HIS LIFE, HIS BIRTH, His Sacrifice, by talking to his Father in Heaven.

The question is “What is HOLY?” or “Who is HOLY?” and GOD alone is HOLY, beyond our conception of who set the stars in space, without a mass confusion?

And why is it necessary for GOD HIMSELF, to set aside a DAY OF REST, that POINTS US TO HIS ABILITY TO CREATE….and recreate, and fill the void in our lives….where we want LOVE TO REIGN?

Pointing to God as the MAKER of the Heavens and the Earth distinguishes the TRUE GOD from all false gods. All who keep the 7th day, signify by this act that they are worshipers of Jehovah. Thus the Sabbath is THE SIGN of man’s allegiance to GOD as long as there are any upon the earth to serve Him.

“So long as the heavens and the earth endure the Sabbath will continue as a sign of the Creator’s power. And when Eden shall bloom on the earth again, God’s holy rest day will be honored by all beneath the sun. “From one sabbath to the another” the inhabitants of the glorified new earth shall go up ” to worship before me, saith the Lord.”

When the one called “the anti-Christ” tries to draw all men to him…it was JESUS, who drew all men to HIM, because He was LIFTED UP to die, to bring US HOME, granting us ENTRANCE INTO HIS KINGDOM. . .of reality.

The devil is bound to this earth for a thousand years…he will walk in this prison-house of destruction he has made, as his punishment, with no one destroy. . .

Our decision, to be chosen by JESUS or used by Satan to destroy others. . .is called FREEDOM. . .and even Conscientious Objectors have won the Purple Heart, because of their dedication in saving souls. . .carrying in the wounded . . .like Desmond Doss, the hero of Hacksaw Ridge.

If you think being sons and daughters of God is an easy job…think again! Even Jesus had to work with those He chose to be His Disciples.

We are nearing the very “time of the end” in which our decisions are being made voluntarily to LOVE JESUS or leave him… That is what true FREEDOM is. . .

Promises to All Who Keep God’s Law of Love: We Shall Not Take the Name of the Lord in Vain

THE PROPHET came to invite sinners to be His brothers and sisters, to do the will of His Father. There is not a home that does not have some HOUSE RULES,

“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord Thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7

“The reason for this command is given: we are not to swear “by the heaven, for it is the THRONE OF GOD, not by the earth, for it is THE FOOTSTOOOL OF HIS FEET, nor by JERUSALEM, for is the CITY OF THE GREAT KING. Neither shall thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black.” ALL THINGS come of GOD. We have NOTHING that we have not received; and, more that this, WE HAVE NOTHING THAT HAS NOT BEEN PURCHASED FOR US BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.

“Burning WORDS of PASSION should NEVER BE SPOKEN, for in the sight of G-O-D and HOLY ANGELS they are as a species of swearing.

“This commandment no only prohibits false oaths and common swearing, bit it forbids us to use the name of God in a light or careless manner, without regard to its awful significance. By the thoughtless mention of God in common conversation, by appeals to Him in trivial matters, and by the frequent and thoughtless repetition of His name, we dishonor Him. “Holy and revered is his name.” All should meditate upon HIS MAJESTY, HIS PURITY and HOLINESS, that THE HEART MAY BE IMPRESSED with a SENSE of HIS EXALTED CHARACTER; and HIS HOLY NAME should be uttered with REVERENCE and SOLEMNITY.

“It is not men whom we are to exalt and worship; it is God, the only true and living God, to whom our worship and reverence are due. According to teaching of the Scriptures, it dishonors God to adress ministers as “reverend.” No mortal has any right to attach this to his own name, or to the name of any other human being. It belongs only to God, to distinguish Him from every other being. . . . “HOLY and REVEREND is HIS NAME.” We dishonor God when we use this word where it does not belong. . . . The Father and the Son alone are to be exalted.”

Sons and Daughters of God for February 21, 2022, by Ellen White

When we enroll in the SCHOOL OF CHRIST, our thoughts turn to own humility. . . how can we ever become LIKE JESUS? Thankfully His Own Disciples, show us they were human, and they all betrayed Him, who died for them.

Promises to All Who Keep God’s Law of Love: We Shall Not Serve Any Graven Images

Idols? Garven images? Who do we worship?

Exo 20:4  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 
Exo 20:5  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 

“Our Creator demands our SUPREME DEVOTION, our FIRST ALLEGIANCE. Anything which tends to abate our love for God, or to interfere with the service due Him, becomes thereby an idol. With some their lands, their houses, their merchandise are the idols. Business enterprises are prosecuted with zeal and energy, while the service of God is made a secondary consideration. Family worship is neglected, secret prayer forgotten. Many claim to deal justly with their fellow-men, and seem to feel that in so doing they discharge their whole duty. But it is not enouh to keep the last six commandments of the Decalogue. We are to love the Lord our God with all the heart. Nothng short of obedience to every precept. . . .can satisify the claims of the divine law.

“There are many whose hearts have been so hardened by prosperity that they forget God, and forget teh wants of their fellow-men. Professedd Christians adorn themselves with jewelry, laces, costly apparel, while the Lord’s poor suffer for the necessaries of life. Men and women who cliam redemption through a Saviour’s blood will squander the means intrusted to them for the saving of other souls, and then grudging dole out their offerings for religon, giving iberally only when it will bring honor to themselves. These are idolaters.

“Anything that diverts the mind from God assumes the form of an idols, that is why there is so little power in the church today.

“The second commandment forbids the worship of the true God by images or similitudes. . . . The mind, turned away from the infinie prefection of Jehovah, would be attracted to the creature rather than to the Creator.

“God is a searcher of the heart. He distinguishes between true heart-service and idolatry.”

Sons and Daughters of God, by Ellen White for February 20, 2022.

Photo by Artem Beliaikin on Pexels.com

Photo by harvey tan on Pexels.com

Promises to All Who Keep God’s Law of Love

We Shall Have No Other Gods

“Thou shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3

“The ten commandments, Thou shalt, and Thou shalt not, are ten PROMISES ASSURED TO US, if we render obedience to the law governing the UNIVERSE.

“There is NOT A MORAL PRECEPT ENJOINED IN ANY PART OF THE BIBLE WHICH NOT ENGRAVED WITH THE FINGER OF GOD IN HIS HOLY LAW ON THE TWO TABLES OF STONE. A copy was given to Moses on Mount Sinai. The first four commandments enjoined upon man his dutry to serve the Lord our God with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the mind, and with all the strength. This takes the whole man. This requires a love so fervent, so intense, that man can cherish nothing in his mind or affections in rivalry with God; and his works will beat he signature of heaven. Everything is secondary to the glory of God. Our heavenly Father is to be ever cherished as the first, the joy and prosperity, the light and sufficiency of our life, and our portion forever.

“Let men worship and serve the Lord God, and Him only. Let not selfish pride be lifted up and served as a god. Let not money be made a god. If sensuality is not kept under the cotnrol of the higher powers of the mind, base passion will rule the being. Anything that is made the subject of undue thought and admiration, absorbing the mind, is a god chosen before the Lord.

“Jehovah, the eternal, self-existent, uncreated One, Himself the source and sustainer of all, is alone entitled to supreme reverence and worship. Man is forbidden to give to any other object the first place in his affections or his service. Whatever we cherish that ends to lesson our love for God or to interfere with the service due Him, of that we make a god.”

Sons and Daughters of God by Ellen White for February 19, 2022.

Love is the Fulfilling of the Law: Christ Came to Earth to Fulfill the Law

Christ chose Israel as the depository of priceless treasure of truth for all nations.

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17

“God chose Israel as the depository of priceless treasure of truth for all nations, and He gave them His law as the standard of the character they were to develop before the world, before angels, and before the unfallen worlds. . . Through disobedience and disloyalty God’s chosen nation developed a character exactly opposite to the character God designed them to develop by obeying His law. They placed their own mold and superscription upon the TRUTH, removing from it the superscription of God . . . The law of God was being buried beneath the minutae of ourward froms, —such as the frequest washing of the hands before eating, and the washing of pots and cups. Tithes were exacted on simple garden herbs. To those who made so much of these minor things, Christ said, ” . . . these ought ye to have done, and not to eave the other undone.” . . .

“Amid all this confusing din of voices there was need of a teacher direct from the heavenly universe to speak from inspired lips to human hearts, and to proclaim the testing truths so important to every one. . .

“As a Teacher sent from God, Christ’s work was to explain the true significance of the laws of God’s government. . . . Resetting truth in the framework of God’s own law, He caused it to shine in its original, heavenly luster. . . . He entrhroned the divine precepts in companionship with the royalty of eternal, uncorrupted truth bearing the sanction of God, the Source of all truth.

“Christ came not only to vindicate the law before the inhabitants of this world, but by His life to settle forever the immutability of God’s law. . . . He [God] never lets go one who commits the keeping of the soul to His care Having loved them because of their love of Jesus, He loves them to the end.”

Sons and Daughters of God by Ellen White for February 18, 2022

Jesus lived THE LAW in such a way, we can trust in our Heavenly Father, as He trusted His Father.

Today is February 18, and in ten days, I will find out if God is ready to end this war between Michael and Lucifer on the Temple Mount. . . . and bring this contest to and end, to destroy those who destroy the earth. This weighs heavily on my mind. . . to the point of feeling quite sick. . .with a cold. This is a reminder for me to obey the laws of eating the right food, with all the Valentine candy around. hummm