Ordinary Time: Monday, July 24, 2006

Old Testament Lesson

Joshua 7:1-13

We see in this passage that the people are defeated not because of their inability to fight, but they are defeated because one of their own had sinned against God and done the very thing God had told him not to do.

This shows us that sin does not just affect the individual, sin affects everyone. The sin in your life, can separate you not just from God, but from you family, your children, you church. Sin tears you from all that is precious. Think of the times in your life when you dead in your sin (maybe that time is right now). And think of how you relationships with others suffered.

I've had so many people tell me that the happiest times in their lives where when they were in church, when they were faithful, when they were obedient. Yet, sin tears us from that. Today, are you happy and at peace with God and neighbor? If not, what sin is there in your life that may be tearing you apart from these things?

New Testament Lesson

Romans 13:8-14

I've been preaching through the 10 Commandments on Sunday night at church and I must have been thinking about this passage last night, because I shared that if we love God and love neighbor then we will be keeping the 10 Commandments. If we love our neighbor as our self, then we will not do hurtful things to them, we will love and value them; take care of them. We will not steal, lie, or cheat.

It is the times that we don't love our neighbor as our self that we break the commandments. And, this isn't rocket science. This is basic stuff. We all know right from wrong, we all know when we are doing harm to our neighbor; we all know when are doing things that we should not be done. The key is simply to not do it.

Christianity is not complicated. It is just hard to do. That is why we can't do it; apart from the grace of God. If you try to do it today by yourself, you will fail. But, through the grace of God, all things are possible.

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 26:36-46

We see here those famous words of our Lord, not my will by thine. That should be our prayer each day of our lives. Jesus not only knew God's will, He obeyed it. In our lives, there are times when we don't know what God's will is. There are others times, though, when we know God's will, we just don't obey.

Today, in the places where you know God's will, do you obey?