February 29, 2024 

Today's Reading: 10 Commandments, 10th Commandment

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 24:1-31, Mark 7:24-37

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. (The 10th Commandment) 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Last week the ninth commandment warned us from coveting our neighbors’ possessions, a real struggle and temptation in today’s materialistic society. The tenth commandment now turns not to possessions, but to relationships. Loneliness is an unspoken epidemic in our post COVID world. People spend more time interacting with people online than they do face to face. And even when they do, it's often hidden behind the guise of a screen on Facetime or Zoom, a counterfeit face to face interaction.  We have become a society of isolation, the barrier is no longer distance, but keyboards and screens. Authentic relationships can be hard to come by, so when you see others thriving, you may feel a twinge of jealousy seeing someone have something you don’t have.

This jealousy could lead you to doing foolish things. The explanation of the tenth commandment suggests that this jealousy could lead you to essentially sabotaging other’s relationships. Gossiping, resentment, cruelty, pick your poison, coveting leads to all sorts of relational issues. So, once again it is important to guard yourself against coveting not only possessions, but other relationships and social circles. It isn’t wrong to desire relationships, it isn’t sinful to crave face to face interaction, but who you are friends with doesn’t define you. Your relationships are not where your identity is found. Instead look to Christ who meets you where you are at. He draws near to you even when others keep their distance. And he gives himself to you in His body and blood. It doesn’t get more personal than that. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Here O my Lord, I see Thee face to face;  Here would I touch and handle things unseen;

Here grasp with firmer hand thee eternal face,  And all my weariness upon Thee lean.  (LSB 631:1)

- Pastor Caleb Weight is associate pastor of Peace In Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown, MN.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

The Lutheran Reader’s Bible helps you develop a habit of devotion and Bible reading so you can slowly but intentionally understand and grow in God’s Word. Through introductions to the sixty-six books of the Bible, guided reading plans, and more, this Bible builds your confidence to study Scripture on your own.