Please read in order! Thank you!
We are complicated people, with complicated issues! It's no secret that each one of us have things that we have to face and deal with, that we have no desire to do! Which leads us to simplifying other areas in our lives, that are actually to be just as complicated, if not more! The biggest one for most of us, is our diets! We spend so much time and energy on other things, that we make our own bodies a burden to take care of. The more we stop thinking about it, and we push the big things into the background, the less it matters to us. Until it becomes a giant problem that you can no longer ignore! I've known people that have done this to every aspect of their lives. They truly didn't care about anything, and they expected things to fall into place for them for everything.
I talk about simplifying things, because we tend to that with our relationship with Jesus. To avoid making and taking the time and energy to pray and read our bibles. We tell ourselves that Jesus is in our hearts! We proclaimed His name! And asked Him to save us! Then when we do read the bible, we simplify the verses as well. Well, the first time I sat down to write about the eighth Commandment, I simplified it! Exodus 20:15 "You must not steal". And as simple as that seemed! I just wrote, well- that's simple enough! Don't steal! Don't take what isn't yours!
But there it was. God just whispered to me; and there it is. HUH? WHAT? There what is?? Don't take what isn't yours. That's what don't steal means... RIGHT!?! Don't take what isn't yours! I kept thinking... I don't understand... Why is this the push? Why is God correcting me on this? Ready for it?
WHAT ISN'T YOURS?
REALLY???
Thankfully- we have a faithful loving God!! He was so gentle in His correction. God placed this blog on my heart for a long time... He never once told me to make it simple or easy. It was to challenge you! To step out into your faith! And by making it simple, I was doing a dis-service to you.
"You must not steal" is much more complicated than taking things that don't belong to you!
Jeremiah 7:9-10 says, "Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and burn incense to Baal and all those other new gods of yours, 10. and then come here and stand before me in my temple and chant, "we are safe!"- only to go right back to do all those evils again?"
For one thing- God knows all- sees all- hears all! He knows what you have done, what you have thought about doing. There is no point lying!
When we think of stealing, my first thought goes to shoplifting in a store. Taking merchandise without paying for it. Yes, this is stealing. But so is breaking into someone's home and taking their things! What about hot wiring a car, and taking it? what about taking people? Your own child? Can you steal a person? Yes, that is possible, and sadly done all too often. That also breaks many other laws not only man's laws, but God's laws also.
What else? If you manipulate someone and then break their trust- Is that stealing? You have robbed them of trust!! Lies and deceit are a whole other level of stealing!
Proverbs 12:2&3 says, "The Lord approves of those who are good, but He condemns those who plan wickedness. 3. Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots."
Even if you are not there to witness the after math of a robbery, does not mean that your actions of perpetrating the robbery did not harm someone. The lasting effects of a person being robbed are often extreme. Whether the person was physically there or not. Not only did they lose their possessions! But they also lost their sense of security.
By stealing you are doing more that getting a pretty necklace or shiny watch to pawn. You are stealing a piece of the person. You are taking a piece of their mind. Now they will always fear you will return. It will take a move of God for them to feel safe again.
Even more so when it comes to taking people! I don't know who started this, and thought it was a good enough idea to continue, but it is absolutely disgusting. I know full well that any one of these people that are in the business of human trafficking, would fight to the death for their own children! For their own loved ones!! I do not understand why they feel that destroying other people lives is ok.
Ephesians 4:28 says, "If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, then give generously to others in need."
Until next time:
Numbers 5:24-26
24. May the Lord bless you and protect you!
25. May the Lord smile upon you and be gracious to you!
26. May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace!
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