Our 10 Commandments, Still Valid for Today?

Stealing:

I realize that it is number 8 on a list of 10.  Putting it down there towards the bottom, well maybe that makes us feel that it isn't really up there with #1... but you will see even number 7 is down towards the bottom. Does that make it any more less applicable?  Hmmmmmm.

I think we have all had our moments... we work in an office and take a few paper clips. We work in a food establishment and take a little extra home. It isn't really stealing is it? Well, yes. We are all guilty to some small degree of some of these offenses. If you have never taken a paper clip from your work place put a few extra Splenda's from the restaurant in your purse...please come see me.. we must talk! :o)

Do we all keep the Sabbath Holy?

When I was a little girl, at a Catholic School, I went to confession regularly. Our teachers made us go. We all lined up ad waited our turn. I was always nervous. Why? Because I was so sinful? No, because I was a little girl and couldn't think of anything I had done wrong. (I was mean to my sister, I fed my pork chop to our dog lady..just didn't feel "bad enough") If only the teachers had primed us...given us some ideas of what was sinful for 9 year olds before we went, I would have been better prepared. But this one day, that resides in my head as if it is a piece of history and belongs there permanently... I took my turn at confession and confessed to the priest that I could not always make it to Sunday mass. I thought he would be understanding. Of course, I always attended mass with my class weekly. But, guess what? That was the day that I found out that not going to mass on a Sunday was a Mortal Sin. Yes, Mortal! I explained to the priest that we lived so far away and if my parents weren't driving to church I couldn't come. He told me to ride a bike, I told him it was still to far. He told me to come with friends, I told him my friends who attended our school lived too far away. He was so apparently exasperated with me. Sent me out to kneel and pray my penance.  It was something like 100 Our Father's and 50 Hail Mary's. While I was still praying my class was done and returning back to class and I was still praying, and crying... feeling like the biggest 9 year old sinner on this earth!

Why am I bringing this up?

Because some sins seem too small to count. Others too big to handle. I agree, my punishment was too much for a young child my age that couldn't make it to church because she had not transportation. I, over time, realized that the priest must have been having a horrible day and I was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

It is so good to grow up and to be able to see the light, isn't it?

Those other sins listed...well, some of those do deserve a punishment. Some of those hurt others, sometimes many people. I do believe that some people commit sins with the idea that they aren't hurting anyone, so they truly believe that what they are doing is ok. Maybe an affair, that a wife or husband doesn't know about.  Maybe magazines that shouldn't be looked at... Maybe they feel they deserve whatever they are indulging in. Maybe they took something... they worked hard and weren't compensated properly. Understandable...but you know what..sometimes you just have to ask for what you want and people will give you what you feel you deserve. You don't need to resort to stealing.

How about honoring our father and mother. No matter what. How about making idols. Do you know that this is "anything" that we put before our God? I could most likely say that we are all guilty of that (momentary lapses of judgement). How about "Do not misuse the name of God." How many times a day do we hear this happening? Could we do something about it? If they were taking our daughter's or son's or spouse's name in vain..wouldn't we stand up for our loved one? Do we love Jesus enough to say something?

Why am I writing all of this? Because I am so afraid that so many Christians are falling away from the most basic realms of Christianity. What do we hold sacred? How strong is your faith? How strong is your love of God.

Do you realize that if you have a personal and loving relationship with God our Father you would never even consider commiting a sin, especially those listed above. Why? Because the love is so strong, the feeling of trust, of God's protection, of peace that surpasses understanding is a real thing... We would never want to hurt someone we love.

Do you remember the song, "They Will Know We Are Christians by our Love",  Can we all look in the mirror and call ourselves Christians on a daily basis?  There are a lot of  "Christians" out there giving our faith a very black eye. Would you choose to buy a car from someone just because they claim they are Christian, rather than look elsewhere? I know some people that have done that only to find that they didn't purchase a car from a very "loving" or even "honest" Christian.

What is the one thing that God asks of us?

Jesus answered, “The most important [commandment] is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’” (Mark 12:29-30)

I believe that what causes us to sin the most is pain, resentment, bitterness. These are all signs that we have fallen off of the path...we have fallen away from God. Remember, HE NEVER LEAVES US. It is we who leave Him. He is waiting, like a patient Father for us to come back to Him. It is ok that we sinned, it is ok that we are dirty at times, it is ok that we walked off the path for a bit... But getting back on the path and turning from our sins and running to our Lord is the best thing we can do for our hearts, minds, souls....and our lives. Do you need peace in your life? Do you need to forgive someone? Do you need to release pain? God is waiting there with open arms, just waiting for your return. Don't even give it another thought, run, run, run to Him like there is no tomorrow. He is your Now...He is your Fututre...He even supplies a Comforter and Guide for you. His love is never ending. Make this choice and stay with it and it will be the best choice you ever make.

God loves you with everything He has. Let Him transorm your life into something beautiful, to what it is meant to be. You will not be let down...as long as you stay on His path... Please don't blame Him, when you step off.

May God rain down His love on you today like a gentle warm  and soothing raing. My He take away your sorrow, your shame, your hatred, your bitterness, your resentments, your deep seated hurts. May He bring you back to the time you knew Him. Even if that was when you were a small child...just so you can feel Him again. I pray these things for you all, in Jesus' name, His Shem, His Being.  Amen