Every Tuesday

We have a bible reading which we start from the first book of the bible all the way to the last book of the bible. After a talk is given based on this weeks reading it's open for discussion on what encouragement did he or she receive during this weeks bible reading. Well first, let's look at this weeks bible reading which is Exodus chapters 19-22.

If you have your bibles or go online to Http://www.watchtower.org go to the on-line bible and read Exodus starting at chapter 19 all the way through chapter 22. What we do we learn about these chapters or should I say verses in these chapters. Well for one, in the bible Jehovah only spoke three times. Meaning his own voice instead of using an angel to speak for him. But on this occasion Jehovah himself spoke and the result is mentioned in chapter 20 verse 19 where it states: And they began to say to Moses: “You speak with us, and let us listen; but let not God speak with us for fear we may die.

The people were afraid. They were scared. In that same chapter verse 18 it reads: Now all the people were seeing the thunders and the lightning flashes and the sound of the horn and the mountain smoking".

Now imagine if you hear thunders, lighting flashes which makes very loud sounds then you hear horns and voices, I would be scared to. The other time when Jehovah spoke was when he approved Jesus after saying " this is my son, whom I have approved". This is of course after he got baptized. A side point - Have you ever wondered why Jesus waited till he was a man before he got baptized? Anyway, back to the subject at hand.

So the people were scared. They did not want to hear God speak. They would rather listen to Moses. What was mentioned? He gave commandments which folks should follow. Here are just some of them.

Chapter 20 starting at verse 4, notice what is mentioned. It states: "You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath or that is in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them, because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion"

Do you not agree that many make images and bow down to them today. Do you not agree that the cross is an image? Do you not agree that the statues that you see in churches and how people bow down to them are images? Crosses that people wear around their necks, in their cars, all images don't you agree? Think of someone who walks into a church. They get holy water, make a sign of the cross and bow down to a statue. What does the scripture tell us. It tells us NOT to bow down. It tells us NOT to create a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens or the Earth. But yet people do this.....Makes you wonder...

Chapter 20 verse 12 mentions to Honor your Father and Mother. Which of course means to show them the respect they deserve. Kids today at times think they know it all. They disrespect their parents in so many ways. Jehovah is telling us to respect our parents. It doesn't matter how old we get, our parents will always be our parents. Of course you must listen to Jehovah first. Gods laws are above men. Are above women. Are above father, are above mother. You can still be respectful to your parents while holding your integrity to God.

Chapter 20 verse 13 mentions You must not Murder. Think about this for a moment and I know this is a touchy subject for most. Its clear that you must not murder. Do you think that terminating a pregnancy, a life is not murder? Of course it is. Of course there are things that could happen to a baby where the baby dies inside the womb but if you kill a baby. Sorry folks that is Murder. Scripture tells us you must not Murder. Abortion is murder.

Chapter 20 verse 14 mentions: You must not commit adultery. This goes without saying. I gave this Illustration before. A man purchased a home. He is happy with his home. He has a nice view. Then the rain starts to come. Water gets into his home. The man is upset. He leaves his home and purchases a new one. Like this home, our relationship with our mate may start happy but sooner or later there will be problems. This man got up and left to purchase a new home instead of fixing his problem.

Instead of leaving your husband, instead of leaving your wife. Fix the leak. Fix the problem. Work together on solving the issues. Don't commit adultery. Which reminds me of an issue in the past where I was the only one giving counsel on a friends marriage. His wife cheated on him. While others were telling him to leave his wife. To separate his family, I was trying to convince him to stay and work on this marriage. Jehovah hates a divorce. Mistakes happen. Trust can be damaged but like that house that had a leak. Maybe the leak was really bad and caused lots of damage. Don't buy a new house. Fix the one you have. Fix the relationship you have.

What Jehovah gave to those back then applies to us now. Of course we don't live by the mosaic law which was more than 600 plus laws. Jesus changed all that when he came to Earth. Jesus gave two laws.

The answer Jesus gave has tremendous importance for us today. In his reply, he summed up what always was and always will be the essence of true worship. Quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5, Jesus said: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment.”

Also Quoting from Leviticus 19:18, Jesus said: “The second, like it, is this, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’” Jesus then indicated that these two laws embraced the whole of pure worship. Forestalling any attempt to get him to list in order of importance the other laws, he concluded: “On these two commandments the whole Law hangs, and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

Anyway, I mentioned Jesse and his feelings. Let me promise you that it hasn't changed. Its the same as before. It will remain the same as before. Its not like a light switch that you can just turn off. Its not a feeling that goes away. He looks forward to the future. I'm very proud of him due to the fact that he wants to do things right. He wants to do what's right in the eyes of Jehovah.

Anyways, have a great day and see yalls tomorrow.