Exodus 20:17 (New International Version)
17 "You shall not covet…
Colossians 3:5 (King James Version)
5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Ouch! (long pause) Ouch! This hurts. You see, it’s easy to look back at the Israelites and point the accusatory finger at them and say “What were they thinking?’ However, I looked at my hand and lo and behold, there were three fingers pointing back at me. Three! I’m as impatient with God’s silence as they were. I’m as covetous for comfort and luxury as these people were. I’m certainly as stiff-necked as they were. Come to the fiery smoking mountain of God and be shaken by the thundering of His voice again? No not me. Take up my cross and follow Him? I’d rather not. What about prayer and fasting? No, thank you. This may seem like an odd start to this weeks lesson, but let’s be honest… Isn’t there a little rebellion in all of us… Oops.. I’m not finger pointing in this one… just introspecting. You see, whenever I do this.. stand in the mirror and inspect closely.. and ..honestly.. , I completely understand why I need Jesus. Without Him, I would be completely adrift. Following after my every whim. Trying my best to get God to Bless my Mess. To somehow sanctify my selfish intentions beforehand and follow after me to cleanup my mess after I have pursued my personal agenda in His Name. I’m guilty. I can look at this week’s lesson and see myself in the Israelites.
And then I see something else.. His Majesty in my inadequacy. His Glory in my shame. His Mercy extended in my guilt. His Grace, His immeasurable Grace toward me though I could never and should never deserve it. You see, If the law condemns me. If it reveals the sin in my flesh. If God’s law exposes me for the ingrate that I really am, then it has accomplished it’s work in me. Bible says truly that there none righteous, Not any of us. Because I cannot save myself, God, who is Love, threw me a lifeline. He gave me Jesus. I don’t even know how to say ‘Thank You’. Really! What language expresses it best? How many times can I repeat it.. in one breath? I feel like a man who has been pulled from quicksand. I was helpless and Help came. I was hopeless and Hope showed up. I didn’t know love, then Love reached into the abyss and snatched me from disaster. I don’t know about you, but I got saved from something… Really! For that I’ll be eternally grateful and … going forward … a little more mindful of my own shortcomings. Thank God for rejecting idolatry. In doing so He separated a people unto Himself. We don’t worship a god after our own liking, but rather we have been brought (bought) to a place where His Holiness and Majesty could be revealed to us , a place where we can worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Brought to a place of everlasting peace through His son and our Savior, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Hebrews 13:5 (King James Version)
5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
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