Devotions

Devotions

Reflections – FTP series on Christian Ethics 4 : Rightly obeying the Sabbath commandment

The Fourth Commandment on Sabbath-keeping is unique in that the reason for the Commandment is different at the time of its original giving at Mount Sinai (Exo 20:8-11) and at the time Moses restated the Commandments to a new generation of Israelites just before they entered the Promised Land (Deu 5:12-15). In the first passage, the reason is stated as, “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested…

Reflections – FTP series on Christian Ethics 3: Honouring God’s name

We might think on reading the Third Commandment to “not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Exo 20:7, Deu 5:11) that it mainly had to do with not uttering profanities. That would mean that this would be a fairly easy commandment to keep! Yet it is very possible to never utter profanity and yet grievously break the commandment. This is because the ‘Name’ of God represents all that God is in His unique holiness and greatness…

Reflections – FTP series on Christian Ethics 2: The Ten Commandments

  I used to feel that the Ten Commandments were rather unapproachable and not very relevant to Christian life. I knew that I would not be able to perfectly follow the first few major commandments and that I would have a hard time fulfilling the deeper requirements of the others. But really I did not see how actively following them would help my life or increase my joy in God. However, I now see that the Ten Commandments are really…

Reflections – FTP series on Christian Ethics I

As I prepared this series I was struck by how good and wise God’s commandments are, and how many blessings can be experienced if we obey them. So I thought I would share some thoughts about how we are to respond to these commandments. Some Christians put a lot of emphasis on the truth of justification by grace alone through faith alone (Eph 5:8-9) and do not focus on the importance of righteous living. Their thinking goes that, because God…

Reflections – A Maundy Thursday Reflection

17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that…
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