Daily Scriptures from Reverend Dan Johnson ~ Monday, 28 October 2013

Daily Scriptures from Reverend Dan Johnson ~ Monday, 28 October 2013 ~ Hello everyone; I (Esther) am back from Nicaragua, where I was on a mission trip last week.  I had a blessed time but am glad to be back at Trinity.  This week we will be looking at different passages related to the fifth commandment to 'honor your father and mother.'  I'll be preaching on this commandment on Sunday which is also All Saints Day.  I'm really excited about it!  Let's dive in.

We've been looking at the Ten Commandments and internalizing the fact that they are not given to us to be hassles or another item on our 'to do' list, but given by a God who is in deep relationship with a people he loves.  They are given as caring gifts to those who receive them.  We reach the fifth commandment, and this one has a promise attached to it.  “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12 In the Hebrew there is a lot of 'weight' on this commandment.  God promised the Israelites that if they honor their parents, they'll live long.  Why would their longevity of life be dependent on how they respect or esteem their parents?  Would anyone survive the teen years?  This one could get a little tricky.  Many of you may be thinking about your own parents and their undeserving of respect, for various reasons.  Parents are not perfect people, they are human beings like everyone else.  They have been tasked a great deal of responsibility as caregivers and teachers.  They are partners with God in the creation of a child and represent God in the life of a small child.  They are tasked with teaching their children God's words (Deuteronomy 11:19). Whether all parents accomplish or strive for this is not mentioned in the passage as a factor in our honoring of them, but what is clear is that by honoring our parents we honor God - and when we honor God, we ourselves are rewarded. How can you honor God by honoring your parents today?  If your parents are no longer with you, how can you honor spiritual parents?

Esther

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Pursuing the Possibilities (Our Fall Stewardship Focus) - praying that every member makes a pledge

and that every pledge be/become a Tithe (10%).

Trinity's new "modern worship" service begins Dec. 1, 11:00;

Youth Building: PRAY for it; TELL others about it; VOLUNTEER for it.

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