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Diving Deeper into the 10 Commandments

What Are The Ten Commandments?

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make idols.
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4. Keep the Sabbath Day holy.
5. Honor your father and mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness.
10. You shall not covet.

How Did The Ten Commandments Come About?

In a brief summary, Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. Not too long after Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, the group found themselves at the base of Mount Sinai. They decided to rest here. Moses instructed the Israelites to stay at the foot of the mountain, while he went up to speak with God. Atop the mountain, God revealed Himself to Moses and gave him tablets made of stone that were inscribed with the Ten Commandments. Moses was ordered to share these Commandments with the Israelites. 

The Ten Commandments are referenced throughout the Bible, the Old Testament, and New Testament alike. However, The Book of Exodus and The Book of Deuteronomy both provide the entire account of Moses obtaining them. We’ve included the chapters in both Exodus and Deuteronomy at the bottom of the post that you’re welcome to check out.

Why Should You Abide By The Ten Commandments?

God gave us the Ten Commandments as a set of laws to uphold. They are simplified decrees that adhere to moral and spiritual health. When we strive to live the law of the Lord, we are keeping Him at the center of our lives. By following the Ten Commandments, we are living our lives on the path of righteousness. 

Is There Any Importance In The Order?

There is nothing in the Bible stating that the order of the Ten Commandments has any deeper meaning. Quite the opposite actually. Throughout the Bible, the Commandments are referenced in different orders. 

Let's Take a Look at What Each of the Commandments Mean

 

First Commandment- You Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me:

We need to acknowledge and accept that there is only one God, and He is the Creator of all things. Our hearts need to swell with this great knowledge and keep Him first in our lives. There are no other gods; we mustn't disrespect Him by entertaining the possibility. 

Second Commandment- You Shall Not Make Idols:

Akin to the first Commandment, the second Commandment tells us to worship only Him and to steer clear of idols. The word idols has an assortment of definitions that apply to this Commandment. Foremost, idols take on the definition of false gods. There are no other gods, it is only He who we must honor. The second Commandment also means we must not craft any objects, visuals, or pieces in His image, for that handiwork becomes an idol. We need to remember that God is almighty and we will never be able to replicate something so great and divine. Additionally, if you are not careful, anything can be categorized as idols: money, celebrities, careers, a partner, material items, etc. If something/someone is placed above God, it is an idol. 

Third Commandment- You Shall Not Take The Name Of The LORD Your God In Vain:

By using the Lord’s name in Vain, we are practicing defamation. We are slandering His good name, tarnishing His name with profanity and irreverence. 

Psalms 34:3 reads:

Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together.

We are to exalt His great name and keep His name clean and holy. 

Fourth Commandment- Keep The Sabbath Day Holy:

The Sabbath is sanctioned as a day of rest. It is a day we set aside our daily tasks and focus on The Esteemed. 

In Mark 2:27, Jesus says:

Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” 

This scripture tells us that God gave us the Sabbath as a gift, and we need to respect it. This does not mean we must stay and worship if there is an emergency we need to attend to. 

In Matthew 12:10- 12 we learn if there is an emergency, we can take the actions to solve it, even if it is the Sabbath:

and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

Our Father blessed us with this day of rest. We should take advantage of this gift and use the day to show our gratitude for Him. 

Fifth Commandment- Honor Your Father And Mother:

The fifth Commandment is twofold. The first half being we are required to honor our Father in Heaven. We can find countless scriptures supporting this. The second half is about our responsibility to honor and serve our earthly parents. It is our duty to abide by our parents, obey their teachings, and respect their rules and decisions. 

Sixth Commandment- You Shall Not Murder:

This Commandment seems a little obvious, murder is wrong. Taking someone’s life is a sin. But let’s delve a little deeper. 

Matthew 5: 21-22 reads:

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Likewise, 1 John 3:15 states:

Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.

What do these scriptures mean? What is the underlying message? These verses teach us that murder doesn’t only mean to kill or take a life. They teach us that murder in the Bible is parallel to hate. 

This Commandment instructs us to banish hate from our hearts, and to avoid abuse, whether it be physical, mental, or verbal. It expresses the underlying need to love. 

Seventh Commandment- You Shall Not Commit Adultery:

Marriage is a sacred commitment. The acts that happen within a marriage are revered and meant to stay within the marriage. God wants us to uphold our marriage commitment, respect our spouse, and keep our relationships clean. It is vital we do not take our marriage commitment lightly. 

Eighth Commandment- You Shall Not Steal:

In some instances, we might justify stealing as a means to meet our needs. Some may steal just to do it, get a thrill, or fulfill a want. No matter the reason behind the act- stealing is wrong. It shows disrespect toward another. 

Stealing also breaks a multitude of Commandments: we are dishonest in our actions, coveting another, perhaps idolizing whatever was stolen, and committing adultery if the stolen is someone else’s spouse. 

Ninth Commandment- You Shall Not Bear False Witness:

You need to keep honest in all of your words and doings. When you deceive, you are not respecting yourself or others. On top of that, God is immersed in truth. His actions, His promises, His words are imbued with honesty. 

We learn in John 8:44, that the adversary, Satan, is known as the father of lies. The verse reads:

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Lying and deceit are Satan’s most powerful weapon. When we lie, we are working hand-in-hand with Satan, doing the opposite of God. God wants us to follow His path, not the path of evil. 

Tenth Commandment- You Shall Not Covet:

What does it mean to covet? Common synonyms of covet are, desire, want, and envy, just to name a few. Oxford defines covet as: yearn to possess or have (something). So why would covet be included in the Ten Commandments? When we allow ourselves to covet, we are actively showing discontent and ungratefulness in our own lives. This leaves us feeling dissatisfied and begrudging. God doesn’t want us to harbor feelings of ill-will. These feelings are contradictory to those He wants us to bear. Instead, we need to feel appreciative of what we have, and what He has given to us. We must show our thanks to the Lord for all that he has blessed us with. 

What Can We Learn From The Commandments? What Can We Expect From Following Them?

The Ten Commandments essentially define sin. They were given to us by God in order for us to live a righteous life. When we incorporate them into our daily lives, we are choosing to walk the right path that enables us to return to Him. By following them, we are denying Satan access to our hearts and opening the door for God to grant us blessings. 

What If We Break A Commandment?

God knows we are imperfect. That is why He sent His son to be sacrificed for us: to clean away our sins. If we repent, we will be forgiven. He loves us and doesn’t want us to hurt or suffer. He designed a way for us to clean our slates when we slip up. 

To Conclude

Many of the Commandments go hand-in-hand with each other. Their messages are interwoven, united together as God’s will. God showed His love for us when He presented us with the Ten Commandments. He provided us with the laws we need to follow in order to receive everlasting life with Him. He blessed us with a fail-safe in the form of repentance. Heed His warning. Commit yourself to follow His law. If we do our part, He will do his. 

-Torrance Church of Christ

Chapters From Exodus and Deuteronomy

In Exodus chapter 20, we learn the story of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments. It reads:

1 And God spoke all these words:

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal. 16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” 18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” 21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. 22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold. 24 “‘Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it. 26 And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts may be exposed.’

We see this again in Deuteronomy chapter 5:

1 Moses summoned all Israel and said:

Hear, Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them. 2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. 3 It was not with our ancestors that the Lord made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today. 4 The Lord spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain. 5 (At that time I stood between the Lord and you to declare to you the word of the Lord, because you were afraid of the fire and did not go up the mountain.) And he said: 6 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 7 “You shall have no other gods before me. 8 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 11 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 12 “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. 16 “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 17 “You shall not murder. 18 “You shall not commit adultery. 19 “You shall not steal. 20 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 21 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” 22 These are the commandments the Lord proclaimed in a loud voice to your whole assembly there on the mountain from out of the fire, the cloud and the deep darkness; and he added nothing more. Then he wrote them on two stone tablets and gave them to me. 23 When you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was ablaze with fire, all the leaders of your tribes and your elders came to me. 24 And you said, “The Lord our God has shown us his glory and his majesty, and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a person can live even if God speaks with them. 25 But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us, and we will die if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any longer. 26 For what mortal has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived? 27 Go near and listen to all that the Lord our God says. Then tell us whatever the Lord our God tells you. We will listen and obey.” 28 The Lord heard you when you spoke to me, and the Lord said to me, “I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good. 29 Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever! 30 “Go, tell them to return to their tents. 31 But you stay here with me so that I may give you all the commands, decrees and laws you are to teach them to follow in the land I am giving them to possess.” 32 So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. 33 Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

 

36 Bible Verses about Faith

Why Do We Need Faith?

When we are leading our lives in faith, we are:

• Following His word
• Adept at warding off temptation
• Granting God authority to help us when we call upon Him
• Wholly put trust in Our Lord
• Receive spiritual blessings
• Embolden and restore faith in others

By taking the time to reflect on your faith, you have an opportunity to rejuvenate your intimate relationship with Him.

We’ve compiled a list of 36 Bible verses focused on faith. Read them as a reminder as to why your faith is important. 

Verses Referring to Faith

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

James 1:6

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

John 11:40

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Galatians 5:6

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 Timothy 6:10

 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

Mark 9:23

Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

James 1:3

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:8-9

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11:25-26

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

1 John 5:4

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Mark 10:52

 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love.

Ephesians 3:16-17

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

Matthew 21:22

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

John 6:35

I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.

Psalm 119:30

For we live by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Romans 10:10

And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.

Hebrews 11:11

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Romans 1:17

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Galatians 3:26-27

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

Acts 16:31

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Romans 10:17

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

 1 Timothy 6:12

 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 11:6

Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.

James 5:14-15

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 5:5

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.”

Matthew 21:21

See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness.

Habakkuk 2:4

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

James 2:17

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:20

 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Jude 1:20-21

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:7-8

I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

Romans 1:11-12

Free Printable

Print this free printable out and place it somewhere you see often so you can be reminded of the importance of faith. 

Plato once said, “we are twice armed if we fight with faith”. In all of your endeavors, remember to keep your faith.

-Torrance Church of Christ

The Ins & Outs of Prayer Requests

What is a Prayer Request?

A prayer request is simply someone requesting a prayer. When someone is experiencing an event or situation that they feel they need people to pray for, they send in a request urging others to pray. 

What Can I Request a Prayer For?

No prayer is too big or too small! If you feel inspired to ask for prayers, then ask. Prayer requests come in a wide range, and even if your request is similar to someone else's, no two requests are exactly the same.

Here are some common prayer request categories:

• Heal a disease or illness
• Recovery from a disease or surgery will be quick and painless
• Test results are what you hope they will be
• Help someone turn back toward God
• Help strengthen faith
• Ease undue stress and anxiety
• Ask for guidance with a relationship
• Ask for inspiration related to financial burdens
• Ask for wisdom and understanding about a specific circumstance
• Unspoken requests

It is Important to Note

There is no reason to feel ashamed or embarrassed to reach out for help. In fact, when you let someone else pray for you, you are empowering them, permitting them to strengthen their own faith and relationship with God.

How Do I Write a Prayer Request?

Writing a prayer request isn’t difficult, however, depending on the format of the platform where you place your request if it isn’t catchy it does risk the chance of being overlooked. This isn’t to say people won’t see your request and won’t pray, but it doesn’t hurt to appeal to the masses. 

Here are some helpful recommendations for you to design an engaging request:

• Create an eye-catching headline or first sentence- Depending on the format you are using to submit your request, you may or may not have a headline or subject line to fill in. If you don’t, make this your first sentence. In one sentence, summarize your request. Keep it short, but attention-grabbing. 
• Focus on one request at a time- While contemplating your request, you may realize you have a slew of prayers you’d like to request. Set your intentions for one request at a time, don’t ask for help figuring out a way to pay your mortgage that month as well as ask your son to find a job soon. Make a separate request for different needs. 
• Be detailed without being overly detailed- Express the reasonings you are asking for prayers. Allow the reader to get a glimpse of who you are and your needs. But be sure to not say too much. Don’t ramble on. Keep your description clear and to the point. 
• Show your gratitude- Add a line in your request thanking those who are praying for you. Let them know that you appreciate the time they are taking to pause their life and focus their attention on petitioning God on your behalf. 

Where Can I Submit a Prayer Request?

There are so many options available to you for submitting your prayer requests. Often, your church will have a way for members to submit a request. There are prayer lines you can call and add your request to, social media groups dedicated to requests, and online forums that you can submit your request to. 

Generally, your request can be submitted as anonymous if it makes you more comfortable. On most of these platforms, you will be able to see other requests, allowing you the opportunity to pray for others. 

We Will Pray for You

If you submit a prayer request to us, you can be rest assured we will pray for you. Every Friday we post a Prayer Request announcement on our Facebook and Instagram accounts. You can post your request in the comment section of the post or message us anytime on either platform with any requests you have.  If social media isn't your thing, we have a site where you can submit your prayers to. You can find that site here. 

Tips for Praying for Others who’ve Requested Prayers

Throughout our mortal lifetime, we will all run into some bumps in the road. Sometimes these bumps are small, mere annoyances, while other times, they can be life-altering events, frightening challenges which we may not know how to overcome; especially in the moment. Some matters may not be considered a hardship, rather someone you know has a job interview and they need some extra encouragement. Whatever the circumstance may be, you can guarantee situations will arise that will affect us, our family members, our friends, their family members, our co-workers, our acquaintances, and everyone. During an incident, someone you know may reach out to you and ask you to pray for them. 

Here are some helpful suggestions to pray effectively for someone else (or even yourself):

• Pray for all involved- When someone asks you to pray for them, assess the request so you can make the most of the prayer. An example would be your friend coming to you with a request to pray for their sick mother. Take a moment to examine the situation. What is really being asked here? How can you create a better prayer? Of course, you pray and ask God that the mother may be healed, but that’s only scratching the surface. You need to ask God to give guidance to her doctors; set them on the right path. You need to pray for your friend and help them find comfort and peace in this time. You need to pray for the family, the extended family. Ask that they all remain steadfast in their faith. Ask that His presence be made known to them. 
• Don’t push your perspective onto the prayer- Instead of oversaturating the prayer with your wants and needs, try to discover and understand God’s intentions and for His will to be done. Ask God to reveal His purpose to you. This can help you figure out what you truly need to pray for. 
• Banish fear- Too often, our prayers are generated from fear. Fear over a disease, fear over finances, fear over the unknown. God wants us to turn to Him in times of fear, and to trust in Him fully. When you are fearful and anxious, first pray that He will rid you of those feelings, ask Him to share some revelation, and then pray for what you are asking. 
• Don’t forget to check in- Check in with the person who requested the prayer. See how they are doing, if things are better or not. By following up, you are showing them that they are cared for, that they are important and loved. 

Lastly

Our Father wants to hear from us and to help us. He wants to see us succeed. When we pray, we are communicating with our creator, put our needs in His hands, and trusting that He will take care of us. This doesn’t mean you will get the exact answer you think you want. Fully trusting Him means you will get the answer He knows you need most. 

-Torrance Church of Christ