God's Recipe for a Wonderful Life - Presented by IfULoveMe.org

You shall not kill

Because most of us don't go around killing people, it would be easy to give little or no thought to the Fifth Commandment. However, I propose we all make life-and-death decisions more frequently than we realize. 

For example, decisions about investing in companies that produce abortion equipment or that provide services or supplies to an abortion clinic is participating in killing unborn babies. How about being hired to fix a leak in the roof of an abortion clinic? What about texting while driving and voting for candidates who support abortion and assisted suicide.? These are just a few common examples of how the Fifth Commandment applies to all of us. 

Therefore, when we engage in business and decide how we vote, we are obliged to have a clear understanding of the practices and purpose of the business and we need to know what the issues are and where the candidates stand on the sanctity of life. 

Also, physical killing is not the only type of killing addressed in the Fifth Commandment. In Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus warns that, even without participating in physical killing, anger in our hearts are the root of killing and anger can be extended to feelings of jealousy and greed. 

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,‘You shall not kill’; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.”

Therefore, we are liable of killing with our tongue when we say things in anger. The words said in anger by a parent to the tender heart of a son, daughter or spouse can kill their ideas, hopes, dreams and self-esteem. Out of jealousy and greed our words can kill someone’s reputation, their career or even their marriage. All of which are protected by the Fifth Commandment.

Think of the joy and excitement of a young couple having a baby. Conversely, recall the heartache and pain when someone close to you dies. The joy and sorrow experienced at the beginning and end of life makes it exceedingly obvious that life is precious. And, because life is a gift from our Creator, life is even more than precious. It is sacred. Jesus’ life and death on the cross to save our lives demonstrates that our lives are the very purpose of His coming to live among us. 

Opposed to Jesus’ mission of salvation is Satan’s mission of death and destruction of our lives and our souls. The Fifth Commandment protects sacred human lives and it stands to protect the soul of those who participate in Satan’s mission of destruction.

Visit: https://godsrecipe.org/5th-command-overview

You shall not kill

Because most of us don't go around killing people, it would be easy to give little or no thought to the Fifth Commandment. However, I propose we all make life-and-death decisions more frequently than we realize. 

For example, decisions about investing in companies that produce abortion equipment or that provide services or supplies to an abortion clinic is participating in killing unborn babies. How about being hired to fix a leak in the roof of an abortion clinic? What about texting while driving and voting for candidates who support abortion and assisted suicide.? These are just a few common examples of how the Fifth Commandment applies to all of us. 

Therefore, when we engage in business and decide how we vote, we are obliged to have a clear understanding of the practices and purpose of the business and we need to know what the issues are and where the candidates stand on the sanctity of life. 

Also, physical killing is not the only type of killing addressed in the Fifth Commandment. In Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus warns that, even without participating in physical killing, anger in our hearts are the root of killing and anger can be extended to feelings of jealousy and greed. 

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,‘You shall not kill’; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.”

Therefore, we are liable of killing with our tongue when we say things in anger. The words said in anger by a parent to the tender heart of a son, daughter or spouse can kill their ideas, hopes, dreams and self-esteem. Out of jealousy and greed our words can kill someone’s reputation, their career or even their marriage. All of which are protected by the Fifth Commandment.

Think of the joy and excitement of a young couple having a baby. Conversely, recall the heartache and pain when someone close to you dies. The joy and sorrow experienced at the beginning and end of life makes it exceedingly obvious that life is precious. And, because life is a gift from our Creator, life is even more than precious. It is sacred. Jesus’ life and death on the cross to save our lives demonstrates that our lives are the very purpose of His coming to live among us. 

Opposed to Jesus’ mission of salvation is Satan’s mission of death and destruction of our lives and our souls. The Fifth Commandment protects sacred human lives and it stands to protect the soul of those who participate in Satan’s mission of destruction.

Visit: https://godsrecipe.org/5th-command-overview

You shall honor your father and mother.

Over the past several decades, culture has turned the parent-child relationship upside down. This reversal is the result of parent’s authority being increasingly undermined, aided with an unhealthy attitude of entitlement that is offered to, and even imposed upon, children. How will this trend play out over the next several decades? How do we restore the family hierarchy as designed by our Creator and provide our children the childhood they need and deserve to become the best versions of themselves in adulthood? The answer lies within the richness and wisdom of the Fourth Commandment. 

At first glance the Fourth Commandment is only intended for children to obey and respect their parents. But there is so much more packed within the Fourth Commandment. While it is clearly intended for children, it is equally intended for parents, and all adults. The Fourth Commandment actually is a comprehensive field-guide for raising strong, stable families and raising children who are confident, joy-filled and prepared to contribute to society. 

The Fourth Commandment implies that parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers and all adults live honorably and demonstrate the example of respecting others, so the children in our lives can learn through our example how to honor and obey, not just their parents, but everyone.  Parents set the tone for a child. Additionally, a parent’s model of obedience and honor for God shapes how their children will obey and honor God.

The Fourth Commandment also includes a promise. Honoring our father and mother promises a “long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” This promise may seem to be just some extra fluff to make the Commandment sound appealing. However, when you consider how the Fourth Commandment plays out, it truly does pave the way for a long and happy life.

Living a good life is about choices, and children who learn obedience and respect are better equipped to make good choices that lead to a better life for them and their children. For example, a child who obeys his parents and comes in at curfew may miss out on the “fun” of staying out late, but they also avoid the situations that put drunk drivers behind the wheel.

As parents and grandparents, we are called by God to be examples of honor and respect. Furthermore, we must be intentional about teaching honor and respect to our children and not  let it happen by chance. 

Another aspect of the Fourth Commandment is that it instructs us to honor our parents in their old age. No one has perfect parents and too many people have parents who clearly fell short of providing an ideal childhood. Regardless, we all are called by God to set aside our differences and honor our parents and fulfill their needs as they become physically and mentally unable to care for themselves. 

When it seems impossible to lovingly care for parents, we can draw strength from the following Bible verse: “With your whole heart honor your father; your mother’s birth pangs do not forget. Remember, of these parents you were born; what can you give them for all they gave you?” Sirach 7:27-28

One of the hidden gems masterfully designed within God’s framework of the Fourth Commandment is a variety of blessings for the whole family, including future generations. 

Visit: https://godsrecipe.org/4th-command-overview

You shall honor your father and mother.

Over the past several decades, culture has turned the parent-child relationship upside down. This reversal is the result of parent’s authority being increasingly undermined, aided with an unhealthy attitude of entitlement that is offered to, and even imposed upon, children. How will this trend play out over the next several decades? How do we restore the family hierarchy as designed by our Creator and provide our children the childhood they need and deserve to become the best versions of themselves in adulthood? The answer lies within the richness and wisdom of the Fourth Commandment. 

At first glance the Fourth Commandment is only intended for children to obey and respect their parents. But there is so much more packed within the Fourth Commandment. While it is clearly intended for children, it is equally intended for parents, and all adults. The Fourth Commandment actually is a comprehensive field-guide for raising strong, stable families and raising children who are confident, joy-filled and prepared to contribute to society. 

The Fourth Commandment implies that parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers and all adults live honorably and demonstrate the example of respecting others, so the children in our lives can learn through our example how to honor and obey, not just their parents, but everyone.  Parents set the tone for a child. Additionally, a parent’s model of obedience and honor for God shapes how their children will obey and honor God.

The Fourth Commandment also includes a promise. Honoring our father and mother promises a “long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” This promise may seem to be just some extra fluff to make the Commandment sound appealing. However, when you consider how the Fourth Commandment plays out, it truly does pave the way for a long and happy life.

Living a good life is about choices, and children who learn obedience and respect are better equipped to make good choices that lead to a better life for them and their children. For example, a child who obeys his parents and comes in at curfew may miss out on the “fun” of staying out late, but they also avoid the situations that put drunk drivers behind the wheel.

As parents and grandparents, we are called by God to be examples of honor and respect. Furthermore, we must be intentional about teaching honor and respect to our children and not  let it happen by chance. 

Another aspect of the Fourth Commandment is that it instructs us to honor our parents in their old age. No one has perfect parents and too many people have parents who clearly fell short of providing an ideal childhood. Regardless, we all are called by God to set aside our differences and honor our parents and fulfill their needs as they become physically and mentally unable to care for themselves. 

When it seems impossible to lovingly care for parents, we can draw strength from the following Bible verse: “With your whole heart honor your father; your mother’s birth pangs do not forget. Remember, of these parents you were born; what can you give them for all they gave you?” Sirach 7:27-28

One of the hidden gems masterfully designed within God’s framework of the Fourth Commandment is a variety of blessings for the whole family, including future generations. 

Visit: https://godsrecipe.org/4th-command-overview

Remember to Keep Holy the Lord’s Day.

With the rotation of the Earth, God gave us day and night, with the moon revolving around the earth He gave us months, and in the revolutions of the earth around the sun He gave us years. By tilting the earth He gave us the seasons of the year. But nothing in nature has a natural cycle of seven days. God created everything in six days and then, as a bonus, gave us an extra day. A God-given day of vacation every week to recall all He created, to praise Him, to rest and enjoy all all His blessings. 

But what if God didn’t create the extra day? Instead He just ended the creation story after six days and then launched us right into Monday? How fun would that be? Even with all the beautiful and amazing gifts He had created, He wanted to give us even more. So, in His infinite love and wisdom, He created an extra day as a gift. 

Unfortunately, our culture has made Sunday just another day of the week. A day to get caught up for the week ahead. The trap we too often fall into is that we focus first on all the other seemingly more important and more fun ways we could use our Sundays. 

As we fill up Sundays with chores and worldly desires, we become too busy for God and too busy to spend time relaxing with family and friends. Between getting the laundry done, grocery shopping for the week, helping the kids finish their science project, the two soccer practices and the big game, there doesn’t seem to be time to “fit in” going to church. As busyness takes hold, we drift from our relationship with God, causing us to become confused and tempted with the lies and deception of worldly wisdom and wondering how did life become so difficult. 

In His infinite love and wisdom, God knew that we needed a break from the hard work of life to remember His love and praise Him for all He did for us in the previous week and ask for His guidance in the week ahead. He wanted to give us time to nurture and enjoy our relationships with family and friends and to give us time just to relax and prepare ourselves for the week ahead.  So, why waste it? Set aside the grind of life and trust in God's plan for Sundays. Enjoy them and be prepared to face the week ahead. 

Visit: https://godsrecipe.org/3rd-command-overview

Remember to Keep Holy the Lord’s Day.

With the rotation of the Earth, God gave us day and night, with the moon revolving around the earth He gave us months, and in the revolutions of the earth around the sun He gave us years. By tilting the earth He gave us the seasons of the year. But nothing in nature has a natural cycle of seven days. God created everything in six days and then, as a bonus, gave us an extra day. A God-given day of vacation every week to recall all He created, to praise Him, to rest and enjoy all all His blessings. 

But what if God didn’t create the extra day? Instead He just ended the creation story after six days and then launched us right into Monday? How fun would that be? Even with all the beautiful and amazing gifts He had created, He wanted to give us even more. So, in His infinite love and wisdom, He created an extra day as a gift. 

Unfortunately, our culture has made Sunday just another day of the week. A day to get caught up for the week ahead. The trap we too often fall into is that we focus first on all the other seemingly more important and more fun ways we could use our Sundays. 

As we fill up Sundays with chores and worldly desires, we become too busy for God and too busy to spend time relaxing with family and friends. Between getting the laundry done, grocery shopping for the week, helping the kids finish their science project, the two soccer practices and the big game, there doesn’t seem to be time to “fit in” going to church. As busyness takes hold, we drift from our relationship with God, causing us to become confused and tempted with the lies and deception of worldly wisdom and wondering how did life become so difficult. 

In His infinite love and wisdom, God knew that we needed a break from the hard work of life to remember His love and praise Him for all He did for us in the previous week and ask for His guidance in the week ahead. He wanted to give us time to nurture and enjoy our relationships with family and friends and to give us time just to relax and prepare ourselves for the week ahead.  So, why waste it? Set aside the grind of life and trust in God's plan for Sundays. Enjoy them and be prepared to face the week ahead. 

Visit: https://godsrecipe.org/3rd-command-overview

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

With name calling such a severe offense, why is it that so many people don’t consider it offensive to abuse God’s name? We hear people using God’s name in frustration and anger all the time, figuring it is not that big of a deal. God, being Who He is, can handle it, right? But names are very important and no one, especially God, should have their name abused and misused. 

How we refer to God tells us a lot about the reverence we have for Him in our heart. So, if we use God’s name irreverently, it is evidence that we lack proper reverence for God. Conversely, when we genuinely and openly praise God’s name, it is a reflection of the honor and reverence we have for God. 

Blasphemy and perjury are two serious ways people break the Second Commandment. Blasphemy is referring to God in a curse, calling upon Him frivolously or when our behavior, as Christians, reflects poorly on Christ. Perjury is when we call upon God in an oath unnecessarily to establish credibility. Such as, “I swear to God I didn’t eat the last piece of pie.” 

Another form of perjury is when we make a serious oath calling upon God as a witness and then we break the oath, such as when called as a witness in a court of law. Understanding these two types of offending God and rooting them out are not just a matter of watching our tongue. It requires that we carefully and thoroughly examine our heart and then take steps to properly order our lives to align with God’s love for us. 

When others hear us disrespect the name of God, we degrade the image they have of God and we discourage them from wanting to know God. Over time, repeated abuse of the name of God, erodes the perception others have of God. Therefore, when we break the Second Commandment, we share some responsibility for others’ lack of reverence for and love of God. That is the opposite of what we are called to do as Christians. 

As Christians, how we behave is also a reflection of Jesus Christ and His name. Therefore, it is not just our words that potentially break the Second Commandment. We break it when we treat others disrespectfully and when we lie, steal, willingly ignore the Lord’s Day or break any of the other Commandments. Calling ourselves Christian, but behaving contrary to Jesus’ example of a Christian, is breaking the Second Commandment by being hypocritical. 

Everything in the universe was created by God, out of His love for us. Jesus came as a mere man to suffer and die to free us from the bondage of sin. As Creators of the universe and Redeemers of our souls, the names of Jesus, God the Father and the Holy Spirit are all to be honored and glorified above all other names. When we praise the name of Jesus, we glorify Him in our souls, and we exalt Him for others to see His glory and be drawn to Him. 

When Jesus gave us the perfect prayer He began, “Our Father, who art in Heaven, holy be your name,” showing the sacredness of God’s name. There is divine power in the name of Jesus—divine power to cast our demons, heal the sick and mend relationships. Therefore, we are to call upon the name of Him when we pray and in our worship to glorify His name. 

Visit: https://godsrecipe.org/2nd-command-overview

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

With name calling such a severe offense, why is it that so many people don’t consider it offensive to abuse God’s name? We hear people using God’s name in frustration and anger all the time, figuring it is not that big of a deal. God, being Who He is, can handle it, right? But names are very important and no one, especially God, should have their name abused and misused. 

How we refer to God tells us a lot about the reverence we have for Him in our heart. So, if we use God’s name irreverently, it is evidence that we lack proper reverence for God. Conversely, when we genuinely and openly praise God’s name, it is a reflection of the honor and reverence we have for God. 

Blasphemy and perjury are two serious ways people break the Second Commandment. Blasphemy is referring to God in a curse, calling upon Him frivolously or when our behavior, as Christians, reflects poorly on Christ. Perjury is when we call upon God in an oath unnecessarily to establish credibility. Such as, “I swear to God I didn’t eat the last piece of pie.” 

Another form of perjury is when we make a serious oath calling upon God as a witness and then we break the oath, such as when called as a witness in a court of law. Understanding these two types of offending God and rooting them out are not just a matter of watching our tongue. It requires that we carefully and thoroughly examine our heart and then take steps to properly order our lives to align with God’s love for us. 

When others hear us disrespect the name of God, we degrade the image they have of God and we discourage them from wanting to know God. Over time, repeated abuse of the name of God, erodes the perception others have of God. Therefore, when we break the Second Commandment, we share some responsibility for others’ lack of reverence for and love of God. That is the opposite of what we are called to do as Christians. 

As Christians, how we behave is also a reflection of Jesus Christ and His name. Therefore, it is not just our words that potentially break the Second Commandment. We break it when we treat others disrespectfully and when we lie, steal, willingly ignore the Lord’s Day or break any of the other Commandments. Calling ourselves Christian, but behaving contrary to Jesus’ example of a Christian, is breaking the Second Commandment by being hypocritical. 

Everything in the universe was created by God, out of His love for us. Jesus came as a mere man to suffer and die to free us from the bondage of sin. As Creators of the universe and Redeemers of our souls, the names of Jesus, God the Father and the Holy Spirit are all to be honored and glorified above all other names. When we praise the name of Jesus, we glorify Him in our souls, and we exalt Him for others to see His glory and be drawn to Him. 

When Jesus gave us the perfect prayer He began, “Our Father, who art in Heaven, holy be your name,” showing the sacredness of God’s name. There is divine power in the name of Jesus—divine power to cast our demons, heal the sick and mend relationships. Therefore, we are to call upon the name of Him when we pray and in our worship to glorify His name. 

Visit: https://godsrecipe.org/2nd-command-overview

I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me.

Jesus is love and the source of all things good, but we become distracted by the modern-day gods, such as money, work, materialism and entertainment. Being distracted and losing focus on the Truth, we become confused, make unwise choices based on human wisdom and then are left to deal with the consequences. 

The first Commandment establishes God as the one and only God, Creator of the universe and the one who brings us out of the earthly and eternal slavery of sin. Therefore, we should trust Him above all else. 

This first Commandment is the foundation that supports and gives meaning to all the other Commandments. If God is unimportant to us, we become our own god, and lying and stealing become the methods for serving our primary god—namely ourselves. Observing Sunday for worship is unimportant and using God’s name in vain is just an expression. 

However, when we place God front-and-center in our lives and love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind, we learn to trust Him, and we see the purpose and beauty of being a person of integrity, and see lying and stealing as the evils they are. We will naturally not want to take what belongs to someone else. Rather we will want to be generous and share with those in need and bring them joy. And, we will only want to glorify God’s name and never say anything that would desecrate His name. 

Jesus warns us against the “And” when He says in Matthew 6:24, No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other or, be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 

The “And” is when we want to serve God And money. Or serve God And our work, or love God And entertainment. When we attempt this, God always seems to get in the way as we perceive any time, money and attention that is owed to God as getting in the way of pursuing our other gods. Spending 10 minutes with God at the start of the day gets in the way of getting to work. Fitting in time to go to church on Sunday gets in the way of tailgating or shopping.

Therefore, to help us establish a firm foundation, upon which the other Commandments derive their purpose and meaning, it is imperative to understand and pursue this First Commandment with all our heart, soul and mind. It is incumbent as parents, that we make it our highest priority to impress these Commandments upon our children and grandchildren, so they have the proper foundation to put Jesus front and center in their lives and embrace His Commandments. 

Visit: https://godsrecipe.org/1st-command-overview

I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me.

Jesus is love and the source of all things good, but we become distracted by the modern-day gods, such as money, work, materialism and entertainment. Being distracted and losing focus on the Truth, we become confused, make unwise choices based on human wisdom and then are left to deal with the consequences. 

The first Commandment establishes God as the one and only God, Creator of the universe and the one who brings us out of the earthly and eternal slavery of sin. Therefore, we should trust Him above all else. 

This first Commandment is the foundation that supports and gives meaning to all the other Commandments. If God is unimportant to us, we become our own god, and lying and stealing become the methods for serving our primary god—namely ourselves. Observing Sunday for worship is unimportant and using God’s name in vain is just an expression. 

However, when we place God front-and-center in our lives and love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind, we learn to trust Him, and we see the purpose and beauty of being a person of integrity, and see lying and stealing as the evils they are. We will naturally not want to take what belongs to someone else. Rather we will want to be generous and share with those in need and bring them joy. And, we will only want to glorify God’s name and never say anything that would desecrate His name. 

Jesus warns us against the “And” when He says in Matthew 6:24, No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other or, be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 

The “And” is when we want to serve God And money. Or serve God And our work, or love God And entertainment. When we attempt this, God always seems to get in the way as we perceive any time, money and attention that is owed to God as getting in the way of pursuing our other gods. Spending 10 minutes with God at the start of the day gets in the way of getting to work. Fitting in time to go to church on Sunday gets in the way of tailgating or shopping.

Therefore, to help us establish a firm foundation, upon which the other Commandments derive their purpose and meaning, it is imperative to understand and pursue this First Commandment with all our heart, soul and mind. It is incumbent as parents, that we make it our highest priority to impress these Commandments upon our children and grandchildren, so they have the proper foundation to put Jesus front and center in their lives and embrace His Commandments. 

Visit: https://godsrecipe.org/1st-command-overview