There Is One God

And God spake all these words, saying,

I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

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.

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;

And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

                                                                       (Exodus 20:1-6 KJV)

You shall have no other gods! The giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses by God is the Old Testament reading for the third Sunday of Lent (Mar 7, 2021). Theses Commandments remind us how we are to love God and others.

They begin by reminding us that there is only one God and that He is to be first in our lives. It makes no sense to me that anyone would worship anything or anyone other than the creator of all things; the author of life. Why all the foolish incantations to things that are beneath even humankind? Why depend and trust celebrities or politicians that would give themselves authority when in reality they have no real authority? They cannot save you! In way too many instances they worship themselves and put their own agendas before God's. 

There is only one God who has authority over all things. There is only one God who was willing to sacrifice His only begotten Son to save you.

Even as God spoke to Moses, He speaks to us through His word. Listen to Him! Love Him above all others! Worship Him alone and live life!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Run The Race With Patience

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

                                                                                       (Heb 12:1-2 KJV)

What sin besets you today? Are you living with hope? Are you living so that you might be helpful to others and in the long run to yourself? Or, do you look at everything like your world is coming to an end? 

St. Paul advises us to lay aside the weight and the sin that so easily beset us. Lay aside your negativity and put one foot in front of the other so that you might continue to run the race that is set before us all. Not everyone is happy with the restrictions that have been placed upon us due to COVID-19. But, this will pass. It is a time to come together even if we cannot be together. Each of us can be fruitful by living carefully so that we might not harm any others. It will take patience as we are very social beings. It is difficult for many not to socialize frequently. Staying home may be a challenge; but, it is what is needful for the health of our neighbors. It is a little thing to do to help save our loved ones as well as our neighbors whom we may not even know. 

Do not be overcome with this weight. This, too, shall pass. Continue to run this race with patience and hope. Believe that God is with you and for you and working in and through you. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.