“THOU SHALT NOT KILL.”
“Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.“
Some may assume we all know how wrong it is to murder. But think about how many murders take place in our songs, video games, movies, and cartoons. Think about the amount of convicted murderers are in the federal prison system in your country. Do we really know murder is wrong? Do we care as a society? Do we teach our kids and students? In 2011 Seattle had the lowest homicide rate in 55 years, and that is great news, but one murder is too many. How many murders a year do you think the thousands of Hebrews experienced among themselves during their 40 years in the wilderness? I dare say, not nearly as many as this beautiful city. Whether you’re in the United States or Romania, Egypt or Sweden… and whether you live in a large city like Los Angeles or London, or a suburb like Grove, Oklahoma or Meuang, Thailand… murder is an issue.
Scripture makes it abundantly clear that not only must we not take someone’s life, but we are told that it is also unrighteous to have hate in our hearts toward someone. Unbridled anger, impatience, vengeance, name-calling, cursing, bitterness, gossip and jealousy can all lead to murder. Sure, you may not (and hopefully won’t) kill the person! But you may begin to hate him or her, and that is murder in the eyes of God. Or maybe your hate won’t be recognizable but you might wound and intently harm someone, even by your words. Does this sound a little over the top?
I’m not the one whose standard we’re going by. Jesus said in Matthew 5 that anyone who is angry without just cause is in danger of the same hell fire as a murderer. And the person who calls out to another, “You fool!” will be among them in hell.
Thank you, Lord, for your mercy and grace!!!
The 10 Commandments apply to our lives just as they did to the Hebrews that were lead out of Egypt by God through Moses. Let’s control our language and emotions. Let’s live righteously for by Christ we can do all things because He gives us strength. We are washed by the precious blood of Jesus because we put our faith in Him so we need not worry of being in danger of hell. However, unrepentant hearts will experience all the consequences of their actions in this life and may grow just cold enough to become void of faith and therefore, refuse the Savior. If we belong to Him the world will know it by our love for one another. So let’s live in honor and glory to our Savior, blessing Him by serving one another, and loving Him by living righteous lives consumed by His love!