What Jesus said about ... (series)

 

What Jesus said about ... The Commandments.

A teacher of the Law ... came to him with a question: “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus replied: “The most important one is this, ‘The Lord your God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second most important commandment is this: ‘Love your neighbour as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment more important than these two.” Mark 12: 28-31

God gave Moses Ten Commandments, and let's face it, we made a right mess of them. We've re-interpreted them, diluted them, justified breaking them to such an extent that they have become unrecognisable.

Jesus simplified matters for us. He said "Love God and love one another."

And we have ignored that simple rule as well. Today many do not even recognise God, let alone love Him. He is not taught about and introduced to our children. He is excluded from our families, homes, schools, institutions and even some churches. How can people possibly love Someone they don't even know?

As for loving one another as we love ourselves? Many people don't love themselves period. They find fault with their looks, their size, their accent, background, upbringing, education and so on. So many people living life not liking themselves and wishing they were someone else. No wonder so many live lives vicariously following their favourite celebrity "idol" on social media and trying to be the same.

Why can't we just be ourselves, and accept ourselves for what we are. God's creatures created by Him through love. There are no rejects on God's production line.

"Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples," John 13:34-35

Let's discuss this ...

 

Once upon a time, God said to one of His people, "I have ten suggestions you might want to write down and discuss with your friends; they might help you live a happy and contented life!"

WRONG !!!!!

Let's be clear about this. When God gave us the Ten Commandments; that's what they were.

Commandments.

Not suggestions to discuss and debate and alter to suit our selfish modern needs and wants. Let's check them out once again.

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” and “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.”

These days we have many gods to choose from - money, power, influence, possessions, celebrity status, cars and so many other things. We may not see them as gods but they certainly managed over the years to push aside and exclude the one Living Creator God from our lives.

“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.”

OMG !!!

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

Admittedly, some jobs should be manned 24/7; but have we gone too far by ignoring this Commandment? In the UK only 5% of the population goes to church regularly every Sunday - that's all denominations combined.

“Honour thy father and thy mother.”

However we treat our parents we set the example for our offspring to treat us likewise. 

“Thou shalt not kill.”

This includes abortion, euthanasia, assisted voluntary suicide ... ... ... 

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

Oh come on ... casual relationships are fun and not meant to be serious. They build experience and what's wrong if it is consensual, or both partners agree to have an open and honest relationship with other people? 

“Thou shalt not steal.”

If you take a pencil or a pen from work it is stealing. Also a paper clip or anything else. It does not matter if everyone does it. Also if you get to work late or leave early, or take a longer lunch break or stay longer in the bathroom; it is stealing. Or if you phone in and pretend to be unwell to take a day off. Remember - you do not work for your employer - you work for God. Everything you do in life should be to glorify God.

“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”

Gossip. tittle tattle, rumours; just for fun. Not meant to be taken seriously. If you pass on or listen to something bad about someone you have in effect stolen their good name and reputation. If you listen to gossip; take care that person may also be gossiping about you.

“Thou shalt not covet.”

I wish my Blog was as popular as yours ... OOOOPS !!!

The TWELVE Commandments

 

The Twelve Commandments for Seniors

1 – Talk to yourself. There are times you need expert advice.

2 - "In Style" are the clothes that still fit.

3 – You don't need anger management. You need people to stop irritating you.

4 – Your people skills are just fine. It's your tolerance for idiots that needs work.

5 – The biggest lie you tell yourself is, "I don't need to write that down. I'll remember it."

6 - "On time" is when you get there.

7 – It would be wonderful if we could put ourselves in the dryer for ten minutes, then come out wrinkle-free...and three sizes smaller.

8 – Lately, you've noticed people your age are so much older than you.

9 – Growing old should have taken longer.

10 – Ageing has slowed you down, but it hasn't shut you up.

11 – You still haven't learned to act your age and hope you never will.

And one more

 

12 - "One for the road" means peeing before you leave the house.

The NEW Commandments for Seniors

 

1 – Talk to yourself. There are times you need expert advice.

2 - "In Style" are the clothes that still fit.

3 – You don't need anger management. You need people to stop irritating you.

4 – Your people skills are just fine. It's your tolerance for idiots that needs work.

5 – The biggest lie you tell yourself is, "I don't need to write that down. I'll remember it."

 

6 - "On time" is when you get there.

7 – It would be wonderful if we could put ourselves in the dryer for ten minutes, then come out wrinkle-free...and three sizes smaller.

8 – Lately, you've noticed people your age are so much older than you.

9 – You still haven't learned to act your age and hope you never will.

10 - One for the road" means peeing before you leave the house.

 AND THERE'S MORE ...

I changed my password to "incorrect". So whenever I forget what it is, the computer will say "Your password is incorrect".

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A friend of mine just got divorced. He and his ex-wife split the house.
He got the outside.

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Before I tell my wife something important, I take both her hands in mine. That way she can't hit me with them.

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Albert Einstein was a genius and worthy of praise and study. His brother Frank was an absolute monster.

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My parents won't say which of their six kids they love the best, but they have told me I finished just out of the top five.

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Moses was leading his people through the desert for 40 years. It seems, even in Biblical times men avoided asking the way.

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Our son asked his mother what it's like to be married so she told him to leave her alone and when he did, she asked him why he was ignoring her.

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This morning some clown opened the door for me. I thought to myself that's a nice Jester.

Simple

IT SEEMED SIMPLE

AT THE TIME

And yet
we managed
to discuss, debate and re-interpret
each of the 
Ten Commandments
to suit our
selfish interests.

Man's instructions. God's instructions.

I don't know about you but I'm getting rather confused with all the instructions or rules written for us by so called experts and people in authority.

My problem is that these instructions are often unclear and open to interpretation with, for me, perplexing and/or dire results.

Let me give you some examples.

I bought a large "Family Pack" of already shelled almonds and cashew nuts. Enough for all of us to enjoy whilst watching the slimming programs on TV. It said on the packet "Once opened keep cool and dry and away from sunlight and strong odours". But it doesn't say what to do to keep the nuts fresh. How can the fact that I keep cool, dry and so on affect the freshness of the nuts?

Another confusing instruction came with a packet of quick-cook rice. The writing on the packet said “Take sachet out of packet and stand in boiling water for 10 minutes”. I did that and burnt my feet.

I also read in my Cookery Recipe Book that to avoid tears whilst peeling and cutting onions you should do it under water. It works, but you have to come up for air every few seconds.

Even my doctor can be unclear with his instructions. I told him that I get a pain in my eye every time I drink coffee or tea. He said: Take the spoon out of the cup first.

This same doctor advised a friend of mine suffering from rheumatism to keep away from all dampness. Now he sits in the bath and vacuum cleans himself. 

God's instructions on the other hand are quite clear.

When He gave us the Ten Commandments He meant just that: ten rules or instructions for us to follow in our lives.

He did not mean ten suggestions or proposals for us to debate and alter to suit our selfish modern lifestyles.