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The Daily Word of Righteousness
What Sin Is, #6
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, But showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:4-6—NIV)
We are not to create an object, institution, or relationship and then worship it. The cathedrals of Europe and South America reveal the willingness of man to construct a building that he can see and then to worship it instead of the invisible God. We are overwhelmed with the sight of Yorkminster Cathedral or Westminster Abbey but for many of us the reverence stops with what we can see. It may be true that a Christian is far more apt to see Jesus when praying through a crisis than when gazing at the great vaulted ceiling of a cathedral.
Two—To refrain from worshiping the work of our hands; the realm of idolatry.
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—NIV)
We are never to use the name of Jesus or God unless there is a prayerful intention. How often we hear "Jesus Christ!" or "God damn you" as an emotional outburst when we neither are asking Christ for help or have the authority to bring the curse of God on someone.
We need to be careful even with saying such things as "God, wasn't that awful!" when we are not really addressing the Father. God and His holy angels hear every such expression and make a judgment concerning it.
Three—To use God's Name only when we have serious, prayerful intentions; the realm of reverence.
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:8-11—NIV)
The fourth commandment is an abridged version of the rest of God into which we are to press. No longer do we cease from our own doings during one day of the seven. Our whole life becomes that of always doing God's will; always seeking God's pleasure.
Four—To turn away from our own work and attend to God's desires; the realm of service.
Honor your father and your mother, so you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12—NIV)
We are to honor not only those who are our natural parents but also all those whom God has placed in authority over us.
Five—To honor and submit to God-given authority; the realm of respect and obedience.
To be continued.