Prospering communities are built upon solid truth. Help build that foundation where you live. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 112 Q. What is God’s will for you in the ninth commandment? A. God’s will is that I never give false testimony against anyone, twist no one’s words, not gossip or slander, nor join in condemning anyone without a hearing or without a just cause. Rather, in court and everywhere else, I should avoid lying and deceit of every kind; these are devices the devil himself uses, and they would call down on me God’s intense anger. I should love the truth, speak it candidly, and openly acknowledge it. And I should do what I can to guard and advance my neighbor’s good name. Summary I think those of us who live in small, rural communities, many of which have seen better days, can really identify with Zechariah 8. We long to see the streets busy again, the shops and stores open & bustling, and the churches full of old people leaning on their canes while watching scores of children playing. Imagine the excitement the men hearing this felt as God called for strong hands so the temple may be built! The businesses would be flush with cash and the wages high. Seed would grow well, the vineyards would teem with fruit. Best of all, people from all over the world would want to join, not because of the awesome economy, but because they "heard that God is with you." In short, their community would thrive once again! God gives four short requirements for His people in order to gain these blessings, but all of them stem from the ninth commandment. In v16-17, He tells His people to: Speak the truth; Render true judgments; Do not plot evil; Do not love to swear falsely. In other words, adhering to the ninth commandment is the foundation for civic blessings from God. Dig Deeper We always need to be careful with prophetic promises like what we just read. God made these promises to a particular people, living in a particular place, at a particular time in history. A community might be united around an unbreakable commitment to truth, yet not realize any of the benefits God promised here to Israel. In the same way, communities with poor economies and no children did not necessarily become that way because they were liars. But when we read Zechariah 8 in the light shed by the rest of scripture, we see how it reinforces a common theme: That God loves truth and often blesses those who are committed to it. You must be known as a truthful person, not just because your local economy depends upon it, but because you are a redeemed image bearer of the God of all truth. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, the LORD Almighty, who restores His people to shalom when they repent and live in truth; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that God grants you the courage and strength to live truthfully; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - John 6

It's Friday, but don't grow weary of doing good! Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 111 Q. What does God require of you in this commandment? A. That I do whatever I can for my neighbor’s good, that I treat others as I would like them to treat me, and that I work faithfully so that I may share with those in need. Summary In his letter to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul instructs and encourages new Christians who had converted from pagan beliefs to faith in Jesus Christ. The encouragement from today’s passage is to not grow weary in your willingness to do good for others. While your actions, no matter how good, cannot bring about self-justification; your good works reflect the love of God. As opportunities afford themselves to do good unto others, take them! And as you look for these opportunities, be mindful of ways that you can do good for other believers. When Paul wrote to the Galatians on doing good to others, he included that this is “especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Dig Deeper As believers we are called to bless everyone, both Christians and non-Christians, with our good works. These actions demonstrate your belonging to and devotion for Christ. In this regard, the words of the well-known hymn ring true: they will know we are Christians by our love. Our good works demonstrate that we belong to Jesus. This however does not mean that God’s people never tire or grow weary. There will absolutely be times in life where doing the right thing will feel tiresome. This is especially true in situations where what you know to be right does not lead to immediately noticeable benefits. Despite the ways the world works to discourage believers and may cause you to grow weary, we are called to persevere. As Paul reminds the Galatians, if you continue in faith, you too will reap the spiritual fruit which God promises. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who will not be mocked (v7) ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: You're likely reading this on a Friday, so pray that God gives you the strength to finish the week well, so that you will not grow weary of doing good; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - John 5

Does the way you handle money now make you trustworthy to handle true riches? Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 110 Q. What does God forbid in the eighth commandment? A. He forbids not only outright theft and robbery, punishable by law. But in God’s sight theft also includes cheating and swindling our neighbor by schemes made to appear legitimate, such as: inaccurate measurements of weight, size, or volume; fraudulent merchandising; counterfeit money; excessive interest; or any other means forbidden by God. In addition he forbids all greed and pointless squandering of his gifts. Summary These words of Jesus, spoken at the tail end of the parable of the dishonest manager speak to a matter of stewardship. Those who are faithful in very little are also said to be faithful in much. Likewise, those who are dishonest in very little are also dishonest in much. With these words, Jesus is encouraging the Disciples to remain faithful in small matters for their faithfulness in the seemingly minute will better prepare them to remain faithful in matters of the highest importance. Dig Deeper In this teaching, Jesus is speaking to more than the stewardship of monetary resources. The way in which you steward your earthly possessions is an indicator of whether you can be trusted with spiritual wealth. If you are unwilling to be faithful in that which is of the world and therefore temporary, how then can you be trusted with true riches, such as the immeasurable treasure of the Gospel? As the Body of Christ, we have been entrusted with the Gospel message. However, if your focus is solely upon the building of your financial household, how then are you able to give proper stewardship to the Gospel? As Jesus states in verse 13, “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” The Greek term translated here as “serve” more literally means to “be a slave of”. Jesus is warning the Disciples against allowing money to make them its slave. He says as much, closing this teaching with the words, “you cannot serve God and money”. If your focus in life is upon your own wealth and comfort, this will choke out all room to faithfully serve our Lord and Savior. Devotion to earthly riches is by nature at odds with one’s devotion to Christ. Both cannot be your master, either you belong to Christ, or you belong to the riches of this world. As you remain devoted to Jesus and show yourself as a faithful steward of earthly resources, you also demonstrate your trustworthiness in matters of spiritual wealth. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who has trusted us with much; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Ask God for the strength to resist the temptations of the world that seek to drag you away from your one true Master; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - John 4

It's ok to shed a few pounds, but not in a way that dupes other people. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 110 Q. What does God forbid in the eighth commandment? A. He forbids not only outright theft and robbery, punishable by law. But in God’s sight theft also includes cheating and swindling our neighbor by schemes made to appear legitimate, such as: inaccurate measurements of weight, size, or volume; fraudulent merchandising; counterfeit money; excessive interest; or any other means forbidden by God. In addition he forbids all greed and pointless squandering of his gifts. Summary Swindlers, cheats, and con men are not a modern phenomenon. Using deceitful tactics to take advantage of others unfortunately has been a common practice all throughout history, enough so that it was addressed in the Law of Moses. Deuteronomy 25:13-16 speaks to a time before digital scales or prepackaged goods. Many transactions during this period used weights and measures to determine the correct weight of a product, such as a certain amount of spice. This system worked well enough when merchants and traders were honest in their dealings, however this system was also ripe for exploitation. When Moses speaks against carrying two kinds of weights, a large and a small, this is not a matter of size but of weight. Dishonest parties would take advantage of the system of weights and measures by having two different weights that look identical but one would be heavier than the other. The lighter weight would be used when selling to give less product than the transaction demanded. The same trick was also done in reverse when buying, the heavier weight would be used to dishonestly gain more product than was agreed upon. Though these tactics could create a financial benefit for those willing to sacrifice their morals, Moses warns that those who act in such a dishonest way are an abomination to God. Dig Deeper The type of deception that Moses warned against feels all too common still today. A glaring example of this is the New York City commercial real estate market. Despite being illegal, it has become common practice for real estate companies to intentionally list commercial real estate as being much larger in terms of square footage than what is true. Despite the outcry from business owners looking to lease storefronts at a fair price, the practice continues because the real estate companies charge by the square foot and by faking the numbers, they can demand higher rent. Much like the false weights of Moses’ day, this practice takes advantage of those who are unwilling or unable to verify the claims for themselves. Moses speaks to more than just the misuse of measures for dishonest gain. In verse 16 he clarifies that not only is he speaking against those who use dishonest weights but all who act dishonestly. The weights are but an example of the multitude of ways that people will lie and cheat to get ahead. As the Catechism reminds us, these kinds of manipulative practices are forbidden by God and are a violation of the 8th commandment. In using dishonest weights, merchants were stealing a little from their trade partners in every transaction. The same is true for the multitude of ways that people lie and cheat to get ahead today. Even if the theft is something small and no one around will notice, God does. Each business transaction, no matter if it is a multi-million-dollar real estate deal or something as small as a pack of gum, is an opportunity to remain faithful to God through a commitment to honest practices. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: The LORD our God, who detests all dishonesty; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will resist the temptation to cut corners or take shortcuts at the expense of others; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - John 3

Ill gotten gain will spoil quickly, so build up your treasure in the Kingdom of Heaven. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 110 Q. What does God forbid in the eighth commandment? A. He forbids not only outright theft and robbery, punishable by law. But in God’s sight theft also includes cheating and swindling our neighbor by schemes made to appear legitimate, such as: inaccurate measurements of weight, size, or volume; fraudulent merchandising; counterfeit money; excessive interest; or any other means forbidden by God. In addition he forbids all greed and pointless squandering of his gifts. Summary There are many ways that someone can be guilty of theft. In today’s passage, James speaks out against wealthy landowners who fraudulently held back wages from those who labored in their fields. This action is declared to be an act of fraud, and as James warns, the cries of the harvesters who have been wronged are heard by God. This act of theft is seen as an intentional action to fraudulently grow one’s wealth at the expense of the less fortunate. The Old Covenant law made provisions for guaranteeing the timely payment of a worker’s wage. James’ warning against the withholding of wages echoes what is recorded in Deuteronomy 24:15, “15 You shall give him his wages on the same day, before the sun sets (for he is poor and counts on it), lest he cry against you to the Lord, and you be guilty of sin.” This shows how even things that stop short of theft, such as an unnecessary delay in pay, are sinful because of the harm they cause to those who are counting on those wages. Dig Deeper Just because you can get away with something does not mean you should. In fact, our actions should be directed by what is right, not what we can get away with. There are various cities around the United States who have determined to not prosecute theft under a certain dollar amount. The outcome of these policies has been an increase of shoplifting and “smash and grabs” as more people feel emboldened to commit these types of crime knowing that they will not be prosecuted. However, avoiding prosecution in the criminal justice system does not mean you have gotten away free and clear. Just as the cries of the laborers were heard by the Lord of hosts, so too are the cries of victims of theft today. As James warned those who sought ill-gotten gains during his time, when you sacrifice your morals for earthly treasures you are choosing that which will decay and perish over that which truly lasts. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: The LORD Almighty, whose ears hear those who cry out to Him; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God that you (likely) are treated honestly in your work, and pray that you will prioritize righteousness above worldly gain; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - John 2

You're probably not a thief, but the temptation to steal comes often! Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 110 Q. What does God forbid in the eighth commandment? A. He forbids not only outright theft and robbery, punishable by law. But in God’s sight theft also includes cheating and swindling our neighbor by schemes made to appear legitimate, such as: inaccurate measurements of weight, size, or volume; fraudulent merchandising; counterfeit money; excessive interest; or any other means forbidden by God. In addition he forbids all greed and pointless squandering of his gifts. Summary The 8th Commandment, you shall not steal, is rather ambiguous in its meaning. We are directed to not steal, yet the object of that theft is not defined. There is intentionality in this ambiguity, for what is being outlawed is not one type of theft but a whole spectrum of things that fall into the category of stealing. The laws in the United States outlaw various forms of theft and the punishment for each of these offenses varies based upon the severity of the crime. This is also the case with the Old Testament law, where the restitution necessary for an act of theft will vary depending on the circumstances. There are many instances in the Old Testament where the restitution to be made for stealing is double what was taken. There are also some specific circumstances, such as with livestock, where the punishment is more severe. An example of this can be found in Exodus 22:1, “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.” Instead of doubling the amount stolen, a stolen ox demands 5x and a stolen sheep 4x restitution. While all forms of theft are a violation of the 8th commandment, the consequences may vary based upon the circumstances. Dig Deeper There are many types of theft that fall under the umbrella of the 8th commandment. At different times I’ve had money, property, or bank card information stolen from me. These types of theft are more obvious than other ways the people violate the 8th commandment. Robbing a bank is clearly theft, yet there are other ways that people steal that are not as obvious. Over the next couple days we will review some of these examples from scripture and the catechism. Not all forms of theft are on the same level as grand theft auto or an Oceans 11 type of heist, however we are called to be faithful in all matters, in that which is both big and small. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, whose very character defines honesty and truth; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will be able to avoid the shortcuts in life that stealing might give you; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - John 1

Adultery wreaks havoc over every dimension of life. Stop it before it starts. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 109 Q. Does God, in this commandment, forbid only such scandalous sins as adultery? A. We are temples of the Holy Spirit, body and soul, and God wants both to be kept clean and holy. That is why he forbids everything which incites unchastity, whether it be actions, looks, talk, thoughts, or desires. Summary Adultery wreaks such havoc because it always involves multiple sins. This passage in Proverbs helps demonstrate that committing adultery violates not just the one particular command, but every commandment in the second table of the law: 5th Commandment: adultery forsakes our father's command and mother's teaching (v20) 6th Commandment: those who commit adultery "have no sense... and destroy [kill] themselves" (v32) 7th Commandment: Adultery itself, which is precipitated by lust (v25) 8th Commandment: In adultery, one person steals the spouse of another (v24, 26, 29, 30-32) 9th Commandment: Adultery is rooted in and perpetuated by lies and falsehoods, and those caught in it will never be fully trusted again (v33) 10th Commandment: The Old Testament word for covet is the same word the New Testament uses for lust. Verse 25, which reads "do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes" can also be translated "do not covet in your heart..." Dig Deeper Adultery begins long before two people physically come together. This is why the catechism warns against "looks, talk, thoughts or desires" that "incite unchastity." Jesus teaches this concept in the Sermon on the Mount when He states that a man who "looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Jesus goes on to warn that because of the danger that this sin includes you must get rid of everything that cause you to "stumble," even if that means gouging out your eye or cutting off your hand (Matthew 5:27-30). Of course Jesus is using hyperbole in His warning, otherwise our churches would be full of blind people with no hands. What He means, and what the Proverbs and our Catechism reinforce, is that you need to get rid of whatever it is that causes temptation in your life. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who has called us out of a life of lust and into a full covenantal commitment with the Triune God; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Since it's impossible for you to separate yourself from every source of temptation, pray that God will strengthen your heart so you can keep yourself from lusting after the things of this world; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - 1 Peter 5

Since sex causes so many problems, wouldn't it be better for Christians to avoid it altogether? Nope. CONTEXT: If you've not yet read yesterday's post, read it first to understand why today's passage makes what seem to be very unpopular claims. Remember, you are not your own but belong in body and soul to your faithful Savior. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 108 Q. What is God’s will for us in the seventh commandment? A. God condemns all unchastity. We should therefore thoroughly detest it and, married or single, live decent and chaste lives. Summary This difficult, awkward passage comes as a response to a particular question the Corinthian church had posed to Paul. Since human sexuality is so easily abused and has so much potential to drag people into sin, wondered the Corinthians, wouldn't it be better for Christians to just completely stay away from sexual activity altogether? Paul's answer - inspired by the Holy Spirit - is a definitive 'no.' Human sexuality is a physical, psychological, and emotional need that God wove into the fabric of humanity, so people who live within the proper context - a formally recognized, monogamous relationship between a man and woman - must continue to give expression to that which God has designed for them. Just as this passage must be read in the very particular context it was written to address, you must also keep in mind that this is not the Bible's - or even Paul's - only definition of what marriage ought to look like. Verse 9 makes marriage seem like it's merely an institution for those who lack sexual self control, as if total abstinence is the ideal and marriage is a compromise for those who can't resist, while the super-spiritual among us remain celibate. Yet the instruction for both husbands and wives to yield control of their own bodies to the other only makes sense in the context of what Paul wrote to the Ephesians, where he recognizes that marriage is an analogy for Christ's relationship to His bride, the Church. When wives submit to their husbands as the Church submits to Christ, and husbands love their wives as Christ loved the church, then the loving, mutual physical submission Paul instructs here is possible. Dig Deeper Most people in our society - including many Christians - have a deeply flawed understanding of what marriage is and ought to be. Some selfishly see it as a mechanism to make themselves happy, so it's easy to see how such a person could abuse the other with demands to give over their body. But the flip side of that doesn't work any better: in which the purpose of marriage is to make they other person happy. Though this certainly seems more altruistic, this goal is also doomed to failure, since what it takes to continually please other people is a moving target that's very hard to hit. This attitude can lead to sexual abuse when one partner continually gives up more bodily autonomy than the other in order to make the other partner happy. But when both partners share the Biblical goal for marriage to glorify God by living according to His design, they will not only be able to fully enjoy their sexuality as God intends, but they will also come to know their Savior in a much deeper way as they love and submit to one another. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who created all things good, including human sexuality; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that whether you're married or single, that your goal will be to glorify God by living according to His design for the context He's placed you in; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - 1 Peter 4

Your body is not your own, but has been bought with a price. This is good news! Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 109 (We'll finish out QA 108 tomorrow) Q. Does God, in this commandment, forbid only such scandalous sins as adultery? A. We are temples of the Holy Spirit, body and soul, and God wants both to be kept clean and holy. That is why he forbids everything which incites unchastity, whether it be actions, looks, talk, thoughts, or desires. Summary We understand that a thing's purpose determines how it gets used. A fine flower vase with lots intricate details can certainly hold water, but it's not meant to be used like an ordinary bucket. In other words, just because something can be used a certain way, it doesn't mean that it ought to be used in that way. Such is the case with your body. The tired old argument that people ought to be able to do as they please with their bodies is nothing new; Paul begins this passage with sayings from Romans culture that make the same claim we hear so often today, that the only people who have a right to determine what I do physically are Me, Myself and I. Paul then drops a stunning claim - a claim that people know is true but which often gets suppressed down deep so as not to ruin the party: your body is not your own. You did not make your body; you did not breathe life into it; and you are not the one who has determined your body's ultimate purpose, and therefore you don't have the right to define its acceptable uses. Paul's makes his point obvious: "The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord (v13)." Therefore, your body is not to be used sexually outside of God's prescribed norms, which we'll review tomorrow. Paul adds emphasis to his point. Not only must you not do sexually immoral things, but you must flee from all forms of sexual immorality. The primary purpose of your body determines how it must be used, the purpose which rises above all of your own ideas, opinions and beliefs, is that your body "is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God." Dig Deeper Our focus reading the Bible this year has been the comfort and peace possible by knowing that "you are not your own, but belong to your faithful Savior, Jesus Christ." These words have brought immense solace and reassurance to countless Christians for hundreds of years now. If you don't have this memorized already, you should. But this claim is not just true on Sundays, or when you really need to be reminded in a difficult time that God is in control, rather this fundamental fact is always in effect and is completely comprehensive in its nature: you are not your own but belong to Christ body and soul, in life and in death. In other words, your body belongs to Christ in all ways and in all times. This famous opening line of the Heidelberg Catechism is not just a cheesy, sentimental statement to hang on your wall. It helps define and clarify your purpose in life. You belong to Christ in every way possible. And since purpose determines usage, it gives you a solid rationale for living according to a Biblically faithful sexual ethic. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who knew you before creation and chose you to be His own, knit your body together in your mother's womb, and who has set you apart to be a temple for His Holy Spirit; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Ask God for the fortitude to live according to His sexual design for your body in a world that constantly tries to tear you away from it; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - 1 Peter 3

Learn to hate the temptations constantly surrounding you. They only lead to destruction. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 108 Q. What is God’s will for us in the seventh commandment? A. God condemns all unchastity. We should therefore thoroughly detest it and, married or single, live decent and chaste lives. Summary The first two Psalms in the Psalter were not placed there randomly. They form an executive summary of sorts for the 148 psalms that follow them. They beautifully describe who you were created to be, and even more so, these two psalms describe the One who made your salvation possible. From the very first word, it becomes clear that God wants you to live a blessed life, that is, a life of happiness and joy. So it shouldn't be surprising that nearly everyone who's ever lived has a deep and longing desire to be happy. The problem, of course, is that most of the world has rejected God's good design for obtaining blessedness, and instead has followed the wicked way of the original mocker, Satan. This is the massively consequential choice you must make every moment of every day: will you walk, stand, and sit in their company, or will you delight in meditating upon the law of the Lord? The ugly truth is that everything this sinful world glamorizes and that appears so attractive will blow away like chaff. Notice the contrast between the first and final words: God created you for blessedness, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. Dig Deeper Most of the time, people don't immediately jump from one extreme to the other. In other words, they don't go from being planted by streams of righteousness to sitting in the company of mockers in one fell swoop. Rather, the transition occurs subtly - although the process can easily accelerate quickly and without warning! First you just sort of walk alongside the wicked, then your presence becomes more permanent as you stand amongst the sinners, until you've finally completely transplanted yourself and you sit down in the company of mockers. One of the most insidious traps that can ensnare you in this web is sexual temptation. It's constantly invading our minds and thoughts through nearly every media possible. And even worse, in so many ways, we have become completely tolerant of it. We still watch the movies, tune into the shows, and listen to the music as if somehow we're immune to the same temptation that has claimed billions of others. The Bible NEVER encourages tolerance for sin - especially sexual sin. Quite the opposite: Psalm 139 teaches you to hate those who hate the Lord. Jude 23 instructs you to hate everything associated with sinful desires and temptation. Keep your roots firmly planted in the streams of Living Water and turn off every source of temptation trying to trick you into walking, standing and sitting in that which your Savior died to save you from. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: The LORD, who watches over the way of the righteous; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for the strength and godly desire to remain rooted in the good ground God's planted you in, and that God will kindle a growing hatred for sin and temptation within you; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - 1 Peter 2