“You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14

While we might commonly think of adultery only in the narrowest sense of being unfaithful to the marriage vow by engaging in a sexual relationship outside of marriage, this commandment of the LORD God really applies to all perversions of – all adulterating of – God’s original design and intent for the marriage relationship described for us in Genesis 2.

Thus, a person commits adultery when he or she is unfaithful to the marriage vow and has a sexual relationship outside of marriage; but a person also commits adultery through divorce, evil thoughts, pornography, fornication, sexual immorality, homosexuality, and any other sexual perversion. Even a refusal to fulfill one’s duties in marriage is contrary to God’s intent and design (cf. 1 Cor. 7:1ff.). And, whatever is not in accord with God’s intent and design at creation – the lifelong commitment and union of a man and a woman in marriage – is adultery.

This is why Jesus said, “Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). He also says, “Whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery” (Matthew 5:32; cf. Mark 10:12; Matthew 19:3ff.). The Bible clearly teaches: “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4).

When we consider this commandment, we again see our sins and failures to live up to God’s holy intent and design in creation. In fact, our whole culture is in rebellion against God’s will and design for marriage and a sexual union within marriage; and we, as individuals, have also disobeyed and rebelled in our thoughts, desires, words and actions.

Our only hope is in Messiah Jesus, who kept this commandment perfectly in our stead and then bore our full punishment and won our pardon and release when He suffered and died upon the cross for the sins of the world and rose again on the third day. He calls us to repent of our evil ways and turn unto Him in faith for forgiveness and life everlasting. Only in Him and His blood shed for us upon the cross can we sinners find pardon, forgiveness and peace!

O dearest Jesus, forgive me for my sins in thought, word and deed. Change my heart to be like Yours. Amen.

[Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

“Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 13:3

God warns His people that, should a prophet arise who would lead them away from God and the truth of His Word — even if he should do signs and wonders — they should not listen to that prophet but testify against him that he might be removed from among Gods people. Even if it is one’s spouse or close family member, God’s people were to bear witness against them that they might be put to death for their false teaching.

But why would God allow false prophets to arise in the first place? Why does He still permit erring teachers to arise in the visible church of our day to proclaim their erring views and mislead God’s people and cause divisions among us?

As the Bible teaches, it is a test of our faith. “The LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”

It was difficult for believers in Old Testament Israel to hand over those who erred and spread false ideas and erring doctrine — especially when it was a close friend or companion (cf. Deut. 13:5ff.) — and they often failed to do so, leading to their fall. And, it is difficult today to practice what Jesus and His apostles have commanded in regard to those who teach or advance erring doctrines (1 Tim. 6:3-5; Rom. 16:17-18; Eph. 5:11; Matt. 7:15ff.). It’s hard to rebuke sin and error, and even harder when we must mark and avoid those who cause divisions in the church with their erring doctrine or sinful lives.

But remember that “the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”

St. Paul writes: “For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” (1 Cor. 11:19).

Do you love the LORD God enough to hold fast to Him and His Word even when friends and close family members support erring views and teachings? Do you “love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul”?

Who comes first in your life? The LORD God and His Word or earthly affiliations?

O God, graciously keep me in Your truth and grant me the strength to hold fast to You and Your Word at all times for You have “the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). I ask this for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

[Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:34-36

Jesus tells us what will happen before He suddenly appears, coming in clouds of glory to judge the living and the dead. He speaks of what would happen to Jerusalem and what would befall His disciples (Luke 21:5ff.; cf. Matt. 24:1ff.; Mark 13:1ff.); and then he speaks about what will take place immediately before His coming.

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken” (Luke 21:25-26).

He tells us that, “when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (v. 28). And He adds the parable of the fig tree: “Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand” (v. 29-31).

Jesus said (v. 32-33): “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” And, indeed, these signs were already fulfilled in the first century after Christ. There were wars and commotions, false Christs and false prophets. Christians were betrayed and persecuted, and Jerusalem was destroyed for its impenitence and unbelief as Jesus had warned (cf. Luke 19:41-44).

And, Jesus warns us: to “take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”

Instead of living in drunkenness and excess, and being wrapped up with the cares of this life, we are to be watching and praying that we not be caught off guard and, like the rest of the world, be found living in sin and impenitence and not ready at Jesus’ return. Rather, we are to live in continual repentance, confessing our sins and holding fast in faith to Jesus and His cross for pardon and forgiveness that we might be found ready to stand before Him when He appears.

The Bible tells us in Acts 3:19-21: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”

If we are found acknowledging our sins — agreeing with God about our sinfulness — and looking to Jesus and His cross in faith for pardon and forgiveness, we will be ready on that day. Instead of being condemned, we will be given eternal life for Jesus’ sake (cf. 1 John 1:7 – 2:2; Psalm 32:1-6; John 3:14-18). But, if we are found continuing on in our sinful ways, impenitent and unbelieving, that day will find us unprepared and bring upon us God’s wrath and judgment (cf. 2 Thess. 1:7-10; John 3:18; Mark 16:16).

O gracious and merciful Savior, grant that we continue in daily repentance and faith that we might be found ready on that day when You come to judge the living and the dead. Amen.

[Scripture quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:13

Every human life is a creation of God, and every human life is precious to God. Why? Because God created man in His own image and Jesus Christ died for all people (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:7,21-22; 9:5-6; Ps. 139:13-16; 1 John 2:1,2; 2 Cor. 5:15).

Except in cases of punishing evildoers and waging just wars to protect life and property, God has reserved for Himself the right to end or destroy any human life (Gen. 9:5-6; Rom. 13:1-4; 1 Pet. 2:14; Ex. 20:13; Ps. 31:15; 39:4-5; 90:1-3; Job 14:1-12; Acts 17:24-28). The Bible teaches that the practice of euthanasia, abortion, self-inflicted death (suicide), and all other unjustified taking of human life is murder and sin.

Most feel they have kept this commandment of the LORD as long as they have not actually killed or murdered another human being. However, as we see from the Scriptures, this commandment is far more reaching than the act of murder itself.

Exodus 21:29 and Deuteronomy 22:8 expand this commandment to manslaughter, the taking of human life through carelessness or negligence.

Jesus, in His sermon on the mount, says: “Whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matt. 5:22). The Apostle John also writes: “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15).

Perhaps we have not actually killed another person, but have we ever hated someone or called him a fool or empty-headed? If so — and which of us has not — we are guilty and condemned by this commandment of the LORD! This is why the Scriptures tell us that “there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin” (Eccl. 7:20), and that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).

It is also the reason why each of us needs to repent, acknowledging our sin and failure to keep God’s holy commandments in our thoughts, desires, words and actions, and trusting in the holy life and innocent sufferings and death of Messiah Jesus as full payment for our sins. In the crucified and risen Jesus, we sinners find forgiveness and life everlasting!

Dear Lord Jesus, true Son of God and true man, for the sake of Your blood, shed for us upon the cross, forgive us for our failures to keep Your holy commandments. Amen.

[Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” Malachi 4:5-6

Are you ready for the coming of the LORD? The Scriptures assure us that His coming is at hand and could be at any time (cf. Matthew 24-25; Revelation 22:20). Will it be a joyful day for you, or a day of sorrow and sadness? How can you be ready for that day?

The Old Testament Prophet Malachi prophesied that the LORD would send Elijah the prophet before the great and dreadful day of the LORD, and that he would “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.”

We see the fulfillment of this prophecy in the New Testament, in the birth and ministry of John the Baptist (cf. Luke 1 & 3 Matthew 11). How did John prepare the people for the coming of the LORD? He preached “a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Mark 1:4) and called upon all, both young and old, to turn from their sins to the Lord for forgiveness and life in the Messiah, Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (cf. Luke 3 & John 1).

Are you ready for the coming of the Lord Jesus to judge the living and the dead? The way to be prepared is no different than in the days of John the Baptist. The way to be ready is to repent of your sinful ways and turn to the Lord Jesus for forgiveness and life for the sake of His holy life and innocent sufferings and death in your stead. Or, as Peter said on the day of Pentecost, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). In all your preparations to celebrate Christ’s first coming, don’t neglect to prepare for His return!

O dearest Jesus, You came into this world and gave Your life on the cross to bear the full punishment for my sins, and You rose again and ascended into heaven that I might turn to You for forgiveness and life and then follow after You and live for You until Your glorious advent to judge the living and the dead and take all who have placed their hope in You to reign with You in Your glorious heavenly kingdom. I know that I have sinned against You and have gone my own way. Graciously forgive my sins and create in me a new heart that trusts in You, loves You, and seeks to honor and glorify Your name by living for You. Make me ready for that day when You appear in the clouds of glory with all Your holy angels, and grant me a place in Your eternal kingdom. I ask this for the sake of Your blood, shed for me upon the cross. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.