It is very easy to fall into temptation to covet what belongs to a neighbor (aka any other person). This person might actually be your next-door neighbor, or he might be an influencer on social media miles away. We need to be careful and remember the Words of Scripture.

Perhaps you have made assumptions about people, spread vicious gossip or tried to break down someone’s reputation due to hurt or revenge? Or maybe this happened to you? This is breaking the ninth commandment. It matters to God.

Stealing comes in many different forms. Thankfully, this side of the cross, we have forgiveness, but we are still called into a life of repentance.

Jesus says to be holy because He is holy (1 Peter 1:16) He says to set an example for the believers in our purity when we are young (1 Timothy 4:12). We do not let the culture define our sexuality; our sexuality is defined by our Creator for a purpose and for our good.

We can often jump to the conclusion that the sixth commandment is really about people who chose to physically kill someone else. However, Jesus teaches us that it is much more than this. God cares about not only the sinful conditions of our bodies, but also the sinful conditions of our hearts.

Part of honoring our parents is understanding that they too are sinful people who make mistakes, and we have much grace to give. We love each other, we have been blessed to have a family, and our words can honor or tear down. May we be the kind of children (or adult children) who honor our parents with our speech and our lives.

Hopefully we are using God’s name all of the time. Ideally, we are praying to Him and talking about Him in our daily lives. Using His name is not a sin, unless it is in vain. 

As we approach the second commandment, may we remember that even if we are not physically fashioning an idol to worship, that our hearts can quickly turn towards other gods to fill spaces where we neglect to trust Jesus.

As we begin our series on the 10 Commandments, it will be vital that we approach these Scriptures with hearts of repentance, humility, and the perspective that Jesus has set all believers free.

Maybe it is not food that challenges you. Perhaps it is shopping, binging tv, social media, your work, or your temper? Whatever you cannot seem to get under control is a sin issue. We all need the help of the Holy Spirit within us.

I believe that gentleness is true strength. It is living like Jesus and not allowing emotions or stubbornness to get in the way of a surrendered life.

Think about someone who goes skydiving. The rookie is strapped to an unknown instructor, in whom you must place a lot of faith as you take your leap together. In a greater way, we are the rookies, and though we do not see God, we know He exists. We know He loves us, He has given us His Word and His life on the cross through Jesus.

If we want to live out the goodness of God, we need to be filled up by the Holy Spirit every day. When we show goodness or live out righteously, those around us will see the testimonies of Christ in us. He is the hope of glory. He is the Great I Am. He is the Good Shepherd.

His kindness came to us. Jesus, the incarnate deity, came to earth to show us the greatest act of kindness and love on the cross at Calvary. Death was defeated and not only that, by the Holy Spirit we too can have access to the fruit of kindness.