Exodus 20:3, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

Exodus 20 provides us a list of what we call the Ten Commandments. Normally, people will categorize these commandments into three parts, the first four commandments deal with our relationship to God, the fifth commandment speaks of our relationship to our parents, and numbers six through ten deal with our relationship with others.  As I was reading these commandments one day, I was smitten with a sense of gratitude. I know that can seem strange when it comes to something viewed as restrictive as the Ten Commandments. However, I was learning that God places boundaries in our lives to protect us, and I was glad He loved me enough to reveal what is right and wrong. I wrote the following in my Bible: "Thank God for revealing to us what is right and wrong. You bring order and love to us all. Also, I am rejoicing in God's character!"  God in His goodness allows us the privilege of knowing Him.  I know what is right and I know what is wrong because God has revealed Himself to us in the Holy Bible.

Bro. Steve Curington says, "You can over step boundaries, but in so doing, you trade boundaries for bondage." What Bro. Curington used to view as nothing more than a list of rules that robbed him of his personal freedom, he learned were there to keep him truly free and liberated before God.

May we live our lives with the proper attitude about boundaries. And may we always be in a right relationship with the Lord, with our parents, and with others.

Your Friend and HIS,
Pastor Abbott

QUESTIONS TO PONDER
1.  Are there any God ordained boundaries in your life that you are disobeying?

2.  What do you need to do to change your attitude about boundaries?

3.  List the people in your life who have been charged with protecting you by implementing boundaries.

4.  Would you take time to regularly thank God, your parents, your pastor, and other instructors for the boundaries they have established in your life?