Paul rejoices that the Gospel is bearing fruit in the Colossians' lives, throughout the world, and through the preaching of the gospel.
In this short parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, Jesus tells us of the stark contrast of the prayer of a self-righteous man and the one of a contrite sinner. But this parable is not about prayer. In very short order, Jesus masterfully gets to the root of our human problem of sin and the solution to that problem. Just as Jesus said later to the real tax collector, Zaccheus, “the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost”.
God gave us the Ten Commandments to teach us what it looks like to love God above all and to love our neighbors. God begins to teach us to love our neighbors with the command, “Honor your father and your mother.” Love begins at home. As we dig into the commandment, we see God’s heart that this would not be confined to the parent-child relationship, but that in all things we grow in Leading and Following Well. May God continue to Order Our Steps and Shape Our Hearts by his word.
The fourth commandment concerning the Sabbath is likely the most contested of the ten when it comes to interpretation and practice. Is Sunday the new Sabbath? What does it mean to honor it? As we listen to the Spirit speak through the Bible, we don't get direct answers to all our questions. We do, however, hear a gracious and serious command from God to receive and Honor the Gift of Rest. May God Order Our Steps and Shape Our Hearts according to his word.
God told a prophet in I Samuel Chapter 2 to prophesy against the priest Eli for the dishonorable conduct of his two sons. Eli’s family lost their place as God’s priests because of their conduct and abuse of their office. The prophet told Eli that those who honor God will receive honor, but those who don’t honor God will be disdained, or, lightly esteemed. Their names and reputations were ruined. Whom do we put first, ourselves or God? Whose reputation are we advancing, our own or God’s? Over the past three weeks we have seen God’s preeminence in the first three commandments. It’s very important that we revere Him as Lord and His name as holy. Our lives depend on it. In return, God promised that those who honor Him will also receive honor. He will give us a good name. Join us this Sunday as we dive into this truth.