Love Those God Has Placed Around You
Scripture Passage: Deuteronomy 5:16-21 (NASB)
16 ‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the Lord your God gives you.
17 ‘You shall not murder.
18 ‘You shall not commit adultery.
19 ‘You shall not steal.
20 ‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
21 ‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, and you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field or his male servant or his female servant, his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.’
SUMMARY
Today’s passage is about the the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are broken into sections. The first through the fourth commandments are based on the Israelites’ relationship with God. The fifth through the tenth commandments are based on their relationships with their neighbors. This means we cannot just be in our Christian community, but our love needs to be extended beyond the church building wherever God has placed us, whether it is in our own families, friends, workplace, etc.
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
This passage made me really think about the word “honor.” What does it mean to honor my father and mother? Recently, we celebrated Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, and I had to repent that I have failed over and over to honor my father and mother. How easily I grumble when I am asked to do something for them when they don’t even think twice about the sacrifices that they have made for me. I feel that time and time again, we have overlooked the respect we need to have for our parents.
God commands us to love our neighbors. It is a command which means we should love our neighbors without question. Loving our neighbors means to love with action, and not just with our lips. This reminds me about the first church in the book of Acts and how they shared what they had when there was a need for a brother or sister.
APPLICATION
In response to the QT passage this morning, I want to really evaluate ways that I can honor my parents. This QT came to me at an apt time because I had a hard time loving my coworker yesterday because of some hurtful words she had said to me. As I was reading this passage this morning, it made me think, how can I say I love Jesus but not love my coworker? I really want to apply the command to love my neighbors this morning by praying for my coworker and asking God to really help me love her.
Lastly, the tenth commandment really spoke to me, not so much about coveting materialistic things but about health. I have been really angry at God and have been asking Him why I have to always be sick. Actually, Satan uses my physical health to attack me and to prevent me from being a part of God’s community. Due to this, I have always felt like an outcast no matter where I went.
PRAYER
Dear ABBA Father, first and foremost, thank You for this QT Ministry where it is helping me to get back in Your word daily. Thank You for the revelations you have brought to my attention today. Teach us today on how to be a church among our neighbors and help us love our family, coworkers, friends, and the people You have placed in our lives. Please reveal to us how we can reach out and pray for our neighbors. Thank You for setting an example before us. Let us see our neighbors through Your lenses. Lord, help us honor our parents, and teach us what it means to honor them. Please forgive us for our shortcomings and being selfish in our own ways. Please help us to keep these commandments throughout our lives and mold us to be more like You everyday. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ. Let us be reminded of how much You love us and how much You long for us to draw near to You. We lift this day up to You and let us be more than conquerors! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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