The Decrees That Give Life

In my Bible reading today I read where God refers to His law as "my life-giving laws". Ezk. 33:15  Other translations read, "the statutes which insure life" (NASB), "the decrees that give life" (NIV) and "the statutes of life" (KJV).  Now, so as not to be misunderstood, I am aware that spiritual life does not come as a result of keeping "the law" but through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ who said, "I am the way the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but through Me." 

With that out of the way, consider why the Ten Commandments were called, "the decrees that give life."

1.   Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
2    Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image...
3.   Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
4.   Remember the sabboth day, to keep it holy.
5.   Honor thy father and thy mother.
6.   Thou shalt not kill.
7.   Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8.   Thou shalt not steal.
9.   Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
10. Thou shat not covet ....anything that is thy neighbor's.

Jesus added some depth to these commands in Matthew's gospel, Chapter 5.  It might be good to take a little peek at what He said.  And while we are at it, consider for a moment James 2:10 which reads, "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all."

God is the same yesterday, today and forever.  There is a "life-giving" element in His eternal Law for those who keep them and for those who are kept from the transgressors.

The first 3 Commandment have to do with God Himself.  The last 6 deal with man's relationship with his fellow man.  Consider how a breach of those last six takes away "life" from another and how obedience preserves, enhances, protects, and "gives" life - hence, "The Decrees That Give Life".  

What in the world am I doing?

Only one life, will soon be past,
only what's done for Christ will last.

Take a couple of minutes to visit
www.buntain.org/about.html

Then ask yourself, "What in the world am I doing?"

True Holiness

"--true holiness does not come from following rules; it comes from following Christ."

Francis Frangipane

--O--

O for a passionate passion for souls,
O for a pity that yearns!
O for the love that loves unto death,
O for the fire that burns!
O for the pure prayer-power that prevails,
That pours itself out for the lost!
Victorious prayer in the Conqueror's Name,
O for a PENTECOST!

Amy Wilson Carmichael

George Santayana quote

Nonsense is good only because common sense is so limited.

Horses could not understand

I was reading about the Welsh Revival at the turn of the last century. In 5-6 month period over 100,000 people were converted to the Lord Jesus Christ. The countryside was changed. Pubs were closed. Police stations became quiet. Horses were no longer able to understand their masters’ commands

There was even a slowdown in the coal mines for a while, since so many Welsh miners were converted and stopped using bad language that the horses that dragged the coal trucks in the mines could not understand any more what was being said to them.

We are in desperate need of revival. One that will make a lasting change on the way we think, act and talk.

It happened before, it can happen again.

Lie Quotes

Gradually I came to realize that people will more readily swallow lies than truth, as if the taste of lies was homey, appetizing: a habit.
Martha Gellhorn

Never forget that a half truth is a whole lie.
Author Unknown

A lie can run around the world before the truth can get it's boots on.
James Watt

If you wish to strengthen a lie, mix a little truth in with it.
Zohar

Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Please don't lie to me, unless you're absolutely sure I'll never find out the truth.
Ashleigh Brilliant

It is always the best policy to speak the truth--unless, of course, you are an exceptionally good liar.
Jerome K. Jerome

A lie told often enough becomes the truth.
Lenin

The history of our race, and each individual's experience, are sown thick with evidence that a truth is not hard to kill and that a lie told well is immortal.
Mark Twain