Thou Shalt Not Kill: You’re Guilty!

~~ Exodus20:13 (NIV84) ~~  You shall not murder.

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by Carley Cooper

Microsoft Office Copyright Free Images

The sixth commandment is “Thou shalt not kill” (KJV), but whether you realize it or not; or like it or not, you’re guilty of it!  Yes, YOU!

I Know; It Was a Shocker to Me Too!

I know what you’re thinking.  “But I never hurt anyone, let alone kill someone.” 

I’ve been thinking a lot about this commandment in the last few days.  What got me started was hearing a story from a friend (who I’ll call Maggie) about one of her friends (who I’ll call Annie).  I know, that’s gossip; but that’s a point for another blog post.

Here’s how the story went:  Annie doesn’t get along well with one of her male co-workers (who I’ll call Miguel).  As a matter of fact she states that she hates him.  Even to the point she’s pondered quitting her job to get away from him.

One day Miguel said to a third co-worker (who I’ll call George) “I think Annie hates me.”

George runs back to Annie telling her what Miguel said.  Her response was “Good.  I’m glad he knows I hate him.”

Annie tells Maggie this story, and then Maggie tells me.  Then, I spend the next few days pondering over the situation because the whole story bothered me.  That’s because Annie calls herself a Christian.  How is it that she can say that she loves Jesus and still be open about such hatred for another person?  The truth is very few of us have walked through life without hating someone at one point or another.  This is where we get ourselves into trouble.  You see 1John 3:15 says “Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.”  There’s only one way to read that statement.  It’s not one that leaves any room for other interpretation.

“Commandment Number Six:  Guilty!”

So many people don’t realize that hating someone puts them on the same level in God’s court as someone who’s murdered another person.  The Bible has many references to how we should treat our enemy.

• Leviticus 19:17 - Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt. 
• Luke 6:27 - But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you 
• 1 John 4:20 - If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 
• John 13:35 - By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. 
• Matthew 7:12 - So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. 
• Psalm 97:10 - Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. 
• Proverbs 25:21-22 - If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.  

Is Hatred Worth It?

If you hate someone, then you’ve broken the sixth commandment.  It’s hard to love your enemy, but it’s worth the effort.  Do you really want to stand before God in His court on Judgement Day and risk Him telling you that you’re guilty? 

Let’s Pray

 ~~ Dear God ~~  You are so merciful, loving, and patient with us.  So very often my heart is not in the right place toward other people around me.  Thank You for Your Word that teaches me how to condition my heart so that I will not be found guilty in Your Court.  Please help me to change any hatred in my heart to love for my enemies.   In Jesus name, AMEN.

Something to Think About
Here's one of many videos by Ray Comfort that will make you think about how many commandments you've broken.  He has a way of opening people's eyes. 

Now It’s Your Turn

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Pay It Forward

~~ Matthew 7:12  (NIV84) So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

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by Carley Cooper

Homemade Baked Goods to Give at Christmas
Photo by Carley

Have you ever seen a movie called “Pay It Forward”?  The synopsis of this film is a young boy (Haley Joel Osment) who launches a good-will movement.  It is all about passing on the blessings that have been received to the next person.  Imagine how quickly the whole country could be ‘covered’ if every single person were to do a kind deed for 3 people this week.  I do not know the stats on this thought, but I am sure that it would not take long before every person in the country would have received a kind deed from someone.  Now, imagine it spreading to all of North America, then to Europe; and the whole world.  What a wonderful place it would be.

This idea is not a new one.  Jesus gave us what we now call The Golden Rule; “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31 NIV84).  In our society today, though, it seems that this concept has been all but forgotten.   We live in a society that is all about focusing on our own happiness and instant gratification instead of the well being of others.  One of the greatest gifts we can receive in our lives comes in the form of giving to others.  I would like to think that nothing I could be given would feel as good as seeing the happy face of someone else that I just helped in some way.  My heart is always filled with so much excitement as I pass on a blessing to another person.  Waiting to see the reaction feels a little like the anticipation one feels, as a child, when you were waiting for Christmas morning to come.  Re-learning to share love with each other is something that we need to make a priority in our lives. 

Here are some ways that I have shared love; and others have shared with me:

1. Not too long ago, in a supermarket, I was looking over some baskets of kiwi that were on sale looking for a good quality batch.   A little old lady came by and asked me what it was.  She had never seen kiwi before.  I explained to her that it is a very tasty fruit that is green on the inside; and is very good for you.  Some people like to eat the brown fuzzy peels, while others do not.  She was very happy with my input and thanked me for telling her about kiwi.  It made me feel very good to know I helped this wonderful woman.  It really did ‘make my day’!  (On a side note: eating the peels will increase your fibre intake up to three times, not to mention the extra nutrients and antioxidants.  Wash and cut a kiwi into pieces, with peels on, and mix into yogurt or a fruit salad and the juices soften the peels.  Very tasty and very healthy!)
2. I helped a friend do some painting in her house when she was preparing it to put it on the real-estate market.
3. I found out I was moving only 4 days before the moving day.  I spent those few days preparing; packing, arranging for utilities and various services, movers, and much more.  By the end of the day, on moving day, I was exhausted to say the least.  I needed dinner.  The cookware was packed somewhere in the mountain of boxes, and I had no energy left to dig it out.  My wonderful friend came over; with her own food and cookware, and made me dinner. 
4. I do not have a car right now.  Because of this, I have a few friends that give me rides whenever I need them.  They take me to church, grocery shopping, to appointments; and more.  I love them dearly for it.  To them, “it’s nothing”.  To me, it is a wonderful ministry that I am very thankful for.  One day when I get a car, I intend on making it a ministry of my own to ‘pay forward’ all the years I have been given rides by my family and friends; by giving rides to others who need them.
5. My family has a habit of inviting others to spend Christmas with us.  At least one of us is always bound to show up with a guest for the holidays.  Our attitude has always been “the more, the merrier”.  Last year, I invited a special friend from Toronto who would have spent Christmas alone.  We welcomed him into our celebration; placed gifts for him under the tree, and had a very fun holiday that everyone will remember.
6. My parents were superintendents in a large senior’s apartment building.  One year we realized that many of these tenants did not have anyone to spend Christmas with.  So we planned a huge Christmas dinner and invited all those who would have been alone otherwise.  My Mom, my sister-in-law, two of my Aunts, and myself; cooked and prepared dinner (and all the fixings) for approximately 40 people.  It was a lot of work, but it is one of my most treasured Christmas memories ever.
7. I gave someone the book that helped me get past my divorce; when he found himself in the same situation.
8. I have a friend that comes to my apartment now and then with a movie; and sometimes dinner, to keep me company.  This is something that I very much appreciate as a single person living alone; who suffers from Bipolar Disorder.
9. My new-apartment building does not allow dogs.  I have some friends that have been taking care of my dog for me in the past year as a result of this.  Without the incredible generosity of my beautiful friends I would be left in a terrible bind.  However, I never give up faith that God will find a way to reunite me and my baby.  
10. A wonderful person from my church family; who is unknown to me, left a card of encouragement for me in my mail slot at church during a time when I needed some support.  I keep it pinned to my message board at home where I can see it and be reminded that God, and my church family love me.

How have you shared love with someone lately?  What gifts and blessings can you pass on to someone else?  As children of God; we are called to be like Jesus.  God wants us to share the love, so that other people will see Jesus in us.  He is the most selfless, giving, loving person there has ever been.  God wants us to develop our character to be like that of His Son, who was willing to be a sacrifice in order for us to be saved.  There has never been a greater ‘Pay It Forward’ gift?!

CHALLENGE for YOU:  Try to ‘pay it forward’ by doing 3 good deeds for someone this coming week; then come  back here and share your stories with everyone in the comment section below.

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 ~~ Dear God ~~    Your ways are so wonderful that I never cease to be amazed.  The gift of giving is the perfect reward.  By giving selflessly, I am rewarded in return.  Please help me to always find incredible loving joy in giving to others.  Let others always see a reflection of Jesus in me each time I ‘pay it forward’.  Never let a week go by in my life where I do not bless someone in some way.  In Jesus name, AMEN.

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