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We are beginning a new series – Intersections. In the weeks ahead we will listen in on conversations, interactions, and intersections Jesus had with a variety of people. We will find ourselves in many of the stories. This week we will learn how to deal with our doubts, and the places where our faith fumbles. Thomas has much to teach us.
Over the last couple of weeks we have been talking about walls. On Palm Sunday, Jimmy and I will show some powerful stories from God’s word and see walls mentioned in some unique ways and great personal applications.
There are walls in our lives that need to come down because they are keeping us from following God. But what happens when a wall falls that was never meant to be brought down? Like an ancient city without a wall, we feel vulnerable, we feel exposed, we feel anxious, we feel defenseless. The good news is that God is with us and through his leadership and strength, we can start to rebuild.
The last of the Ten Commandments focus on the word “covet.” It points to the desire to acquire, which is uncontrolled. In many ways, coveting is the driving force behind breaking the other nine commandments. The value the tenth commandment seeks to safeguard is contentment.
In a world where the truth can be hard to define or identify, God’s word speaks truth, Jesus makes Himself known as the Truth, and the ninth commandment declares the value of truth for our lives, relationships, and walk with God.
The 8th commandment is only three words: do not steal. Simple enough…but as we’ve learned throughout our series, this commandment goes a lot deeper. This commandment protects the ideal of generosity. We’re not supposed to take what doesn’t belong to us, but we’re also not supposed to hang on to what we have. God is calling us to generous living…and it’s way more than just about money).
One of the things we learn as we study the Bible is it’s so much deeper than we think. A case in point is the 7th commandment. It seems pretty simple: do not commit adultery. Got it! But there’s more. Jesus took this from outward conformity to an inward transformation. The 7th commandment starts in our minds and our hearts. It’s not just about what you shouldn’t do, but it’s also about what you should be doing as a follower of Jesus.