Many people think that God only calls pastors, missionaries, and evangelists, but in reality, God first calls us to be His people. We are called to be saints: believers. Then He calls us to the ministry of reconciliation. We are a new creation that has become ambassadors for Him to communicate this word of reconciliation to the world. In God’s calling of us, He does not just chose the best and brightest, instead He chooses mostly from those in adequate to the task, so that once it is accomplished it is God who receives the glory.

Merry Christmas from Pastor Joe & FBCWest 2017 by First Baptist Church of Westminster, California

FBCWest 266 | The Light that Shines by First Baptist Church of Westminster, California

After God has delivered to the people His commands and ordinances, the people of God commit to obey. Moses writes down all the commands and ordinances and again the people commit to obeying all that has been ordained. As a part of the commitment sacrifices are made and the blood is placed on the alter and the people, not only recognizing the covenant between God and His people, the offering of blood makes the altar holy and the people as justified. Today we have a covenant with God. It is not a list of does and don’ts but faith in the Son of God. Jesus’ blood is our covenant of blood, that is not just a covenant with a few people or for a short time, but available for all people and for all times.

God not only sets out what we call the Ten Commandments, He also sets forth ordinances for the way His people are to treat each other, justice, and equity. God tells His people if they will obey Him and the voice of the angel, then God would be an enemy of those who are His people enemies and will defeat those who occupy the land that God is giving His people. But one thing we should notice in this instantaneous world, that even though God is giving the land to His people and will be the one who will cause victory, He is going to do it little by little. He tells them why. We too should not always expect God to give us instantaneous victories, but one that are little by little.

FBCWest 263 | Truth and Desire by First Baptist Church of Westminster, California

Commandments Six, Seven, and Eight of the Ten Commandments basically deal with not taking from others, whether it be their life, their relationship with their spouse, or their property. Jesus makes avoiding violating these commands even more difficult. Speaking derogatorily against a brother, in essence demeaning his character, can constitute murder and lusting in your heart will constitute committing adultery. However, we can avoid violating these commands if we remember to “love our neighbor as ourselves.” Further, there is comfort in the fact that all of us have violated one or more of these commands, but the Scriptures teach us that Jesus’ blood washes and sanctifies us.

The fifth Command is the second command that instruct us to do something, not just not do something. We are to “honor” our parents. That means we are to highly respect and esteem them. The command is not to honor only parents that are good, but our parents. Our parents are God’s representative to teach and provide for us. Unfortunately, not all parents are good one, but not having a good or great parent is not a reason to “honor” them. In addition to following God’s command, there is also a reason to do so that is in our own best interest. If you fail to honor your parents, you will be teaching your children they do not need to honor you. You may perpetuate a dysfunctional family to a new generation. This command does have a promise, which is that we would have a longer life on this earth.

As a part of the Ten Commandments, the third Commandment instructs us not to take the Lord’s name in vain or misuse it. Most people think that means not to say a certain curse word. However, God is not His name, it is what He is. The English word we use is LORD. That does not mean we are free from using God as a curse word, because the Bible instructs us not to use course language. However, Jesus’ name is a person of the Godhead, yet people use His name as well as a curse word, which most Christians would not use. However, in our prayers we often end our prayers by using the phrase “in Jesus name, and yet, we never think that what we have asked for is for our own benefit and not God’s.

The fourth Commandment tells us to “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.” All but two commands tell us not to do something. This command tells us to do something… “to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy”. We are also told that we were not made for this command, but that it was made for us. It also tells us time to rest and reflect on more important issues than work, but God and our relationship to us. It is also a time to do good. The day you use to rest and remember is not the important issue, but that you do in fact rest and remember.

259 FBCWest | The Commandments Worshiping the Lord by First Baptist Church of Westminster, California