Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Restrictions indicate opportunities


Dutch bicycle
My mother, who is now eighty years old, is in good health. She still rides her bicycle to church and walks to my house for coffee. Well, not this week ;) because we have tons of snow blocking all traffic. Years ago she lost most of her eyesight, so she cannot read small print or do cross stitch. However, she does not focus on what she cannot do; she focuses on what she can do!

This perspective is the main thought behind my book series on the Ten Commandments. The commandment not to desire our neighbor’s house, for example, doesn’t put a ban on human desires; it gives us the opportunity to steer our desires in another direction. Therefore, as in the other books in this series, I am never focusing on the negative command (don’t do this) but on the positive urging of God’s Spirit, who will always guide us in what we can do and should be doing.

In the Today’s English Version (more commonly known as the Good News Bible) that I often use, the word covet is replaced with “desire.” The Tenth Commandment, as described in Exodus 20:17, simply says, Do not desire another man’s house; do not desire his wife, his slaves, his cattle, his donkeys, or anything else that he owns. At first sight this commandment looks like an easy one to understand. Just keep your thoughts and hands off of other people’s belongings, and you will be fine. When, however, we seriously think about such a moral code, a thought arises. If we are not allowed to desire stuff that belongs to someone else, we certainly must be allowed to desire certain things that don’t belong to anyone necessarily, which tells me there are right and wrong desires.

That makes sense, doesn’t it? If the Bible tells us not to do the wrong things, it will surely teach us how to do the right things. Restrictions indicate opportunities. My mother knows this as no other. Disabled people often understand this best because they learned the hard way. Certainly we can learn something here as well...

In my latest release My Neighbor's House, as well as in my previous books, I want to offer a helping hand in reading and interpreting the commandments (which we often see as restrictions) in relation to what the Holy Spirit is saying (which is often very liberating). Hopefully this will enable us to look beyond the commandments. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:6, The written law brings death, but the Spirit gives life. He knew this like no other. A written law can be kept or broken; a spiritual law will teach us something. In case of the Tenth Commandment, the Holy Spirit will show us what is behind that law and will make us understand the purpose. The Holy Spirit will teach us a valuable principle about desires.

Please don’t just look at God’s commandments as a written law but as a spiritual law that will bring us to a higher and healthier level of living. I pray that as individuals, as a church AND as a nation we will grasp this!

11 comments:

  1. When you tell a child NOT to do something you are almost gauranteed it will do JUST THAT! Don't run through the house, don't scream, don't......! Ask a child to DO something and 9 times out of 10 it WILL. Please help set the table, sit quietly a moment while mum/dad......! Come read me a story. I do so LOVE your approach to the DON'Ts in this world- Let's all DO!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Let's all DO! Yes, do what is kind and loving and pleasing to the Father. Thank you Anita, I value your comments.

      Delete
  2. You have brought up a very interesting point. We always focus on what NOT to do. Our pastor's wife has a niece who did something that almost cost her life. Pastor and daughter went to visit her at the hospital. They chose to speak of their love for her, rather than saying things that would make her feel worse. A very valuable lesson has been taught by them and by you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A very valuable lesson indeed, I think one that Jesus taught. That is a great example you used of expressing grace... much like God does for us all the time!
      Thank you Cecelia.

      Delete
  3. This reminds me a little of that saying that says to make lemonade out of lemons (my paraphrase). I think when we focus on what's really important we are more able to see these kinds of opportunities.

    Have a wonderful rest of the week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shifting focus... that are the two words to describe this principle indeed. Thanks Karen.

      Delete
  4. God bless your mother! I'm thankful my mother is still able to drive short distances and be fairly active. She's also in her 80's.

    When a baby is born, it likes to be swaddled. There is security in boundaries. They're meant to keep us safe, while giving us to explore within those boundaries.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YES! They are meant to keep us safe... and look, what happens when we ignore them...
      Wow, your mother still drives her car, that is awesome!

      Delete
  5. Oops, I meant, "while giving us room to explore within those boundaries." It's been a long day. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous5:25 PM

    Clеaning an іron chandelier can be as ѕimple
    аs attacking the fіxture wіth a dustеr.

    Braѕs is a malleable metal which, like iron, cаn be transformеd іnto а
    νariety of shapеs. Ιn thе tωentieth сentuгy, art deco took thе artistic worlԁ by stoгm during the latter half of
    thе rоaring twenties through the 1930ѕ.

    Stop by my blog рoѕt; chandeliers

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for your visit, it is my hope and prayer that this post was an encouragement to you! Feel free to leave a comment.