JOB 2:10 "... SHALL WE ACCEPT THE GOOD FROM GOD AND NOT THE BAD?"
ONE family TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE.
Growing up, my parents never allowed my sister or me to use the phrase, “I swear…” and in obedience to them, I did not say it throughout my childhood. In high school, it became much more common to hear people say this to add emphasis to what they were telling, and I joined in. In an effort to get my point across, it seemed okay to do. Today this phrase is used all the time, and most people don’t give the words a second thought. I even hear teenagers take the phrase to the next level by saying, “On God.” This new variance gets deep under my skin. However, I read Matthew 5:33-37, and this is exactly what Jesus is teaching against. Can you imagine how much these words anger the God of the Universe, if they bother me so much? The thing most people miss is their complete lack of control. We make statements, promises, and oaths, but in reality we don’t have the ability to guarantee these any of these things will actually happen. Even the most basic thing you can think of, like being on time for work tomorrow. Can you swear to your boss you will be on time? Sure. Can you guarantee that it will happen? Not even close. All it would take is one little piece of metal to stick in your tire, a wreck to shut the road down, and the list goes on and on of things we cannot control. With the knowledge that we have zero power or ability to make these things happen, would it not be wise to lay off making promises and oaths? Not to mention the real question of why our reputation would demand a so strong an affirmation of what we say. If people are requesting you to make the statement under oath, they apparently do not have much confidence in your words. Because we have no control, we put our reputation in danger every time we make an oath. Jesus tells us very plainly, “Let what you say be simply ‘yes’ or ‘no.’” I would find it very hard to believe that most of us would take an oath, knowing we have no control of the outcome. Yet, with every promise, oath, or swear we do just that. Jesus made this very easy for a believer to maintain integrity in his words, by avoiding oaths altogether. Doing this is not only a way to safeguard your reputation, but also a way to acknowledge His power and authority over your life. This is a very simple form of witnessing in a world full of carefully worded contracts and precise agreements. This is one time when a one-word answer is the best answer.
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If you are at all familiar with Job2ten, you know most posts are explaining or thinking about a certain section of scripture.
That is about to change, along with a few other things. Since I first began writing on Job2ten a lot has changed. I'm older, for one. Two, I definitely care more about people now as opposed to before. I have gotten married during this time, which is a really big one. Watching my new wife has taught me many things. She loves Jesus, me, and reading. She has proof read much of my work. When I get too impatient and post and without allowing her proof read them, the results are rough to say the least. I believe she will be a great writer, which is why we have decided to make Job2ten into our ministry, not just mine. She will begin contributing to this blog. Especially since she does so much work on here already. I want her to be my partner in every area of my ministry, working as together to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ. Please welcome, my wife, BS, to Job2ten. I'm lucky and grateful to have you in my life. -TG- As a child and teenager, I was in church all the time, and that is no exaggeration. From an early age I learned the 10 commandments, and I was always looking for the "easy ones" to follow. The 7th commandment "thou shall not commit adultery," was one I just knew I would never break... Matthew 5:28English Standard Version (ESV) 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. And then this verse happened. Jesus took my idea of adultery and expanded it into a whole new realm. Previously my mind understood to successfully fulfill this obligation of the Law was simple. Do not have an affair with anyone other than my wife. In came Matthew 5:27-32, and Jesus included, not only the obvious, but also lusting after a woman. My mind was blown. My pride in my own discipline was devastated. For Jesus to take the physical act of adultery and make it a sin of the heart and mind was almost too much for me to comprehend. If adultery can be done this way, what other sins could follow? Are any of the Commandments safe or are all open to being broken in the mind? Is it adultery for 2 people to have sex who aren't married to anybody? Have they cheated on their future spouse by their action? What must I do, or not do, to be right before God? Where is the list? In the very next passage Jesus gives us another way people commit adultery. Anyone who divorces his wife, except because of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and to marry a divorced woman is to commit adultery. Who knew that it was so hard to not commit adultery? The understanding I had as a child and teenager has changed tremendously. These verses along with the verses surrounding them in Matthew (read Heart Problems post) must make us realize that we have tried to limit sin to a list of do's and don'ts, and God has dedicated a very generous part of the Bible trying to show His holiness extends to much more than we have on our puny list. The purpose of this post IS NOT to make you or me feel guilty over past sins. All of us have already committed the greatest form of adultery. We have left the God of the universe to go into an adulterous relationship with idols that have left us used, broken and unfulfilled. Instead, God calls us to Himself, giving us a relationship full of purpose, hope, and life. I hope we will see our sin, all of it, at its beginning point... in our hearts and minds. I pray we won't think of our relationship with God as a list of do's and don'ts. That we will find comfort (maybe terror) knowing at the end of the day God is looking at what's found in our hearts. |
AuthorFor starters: I am nothing special, I love Jesus and He is my Lord. I am the husband of a godly woman. She is working with me to raise a godly child. I am a teacher. I love to read and write. The QuestionBlog PostsQUICK THOUGHTSVERSES TO THINK ABOUTBooks you should readArchives
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