In our family devotions today we meditated on the First of the Ten Commandments. That Commandment reads, “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” This is a very important commandment. It is the first Commandment, and all the other nine are related to it. If we have the Eternal God as our only God Whom we worship, then every other Commandment will be easy to follow—for if He is the One Whom we put above every thing and everyone else, then we will want to obey and honor Him. Thus we will be conscious of the time when we break any of the Commandments.
Who is this One Who commands that we must have “no other gods before Me (God)”? The Lord answers that question in Ex. 20:2: “I am the Lord they Good, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” He was the One Who delivered the Israelites from Egypt. He brought them out of slavery. Today that same God has redeemed us from sin and delivered us from the bondage of sin. Just as Israel was brought our of Egypt, we, who are saved, have been delivered from the world, sin, and the snares the world and sin use to trap souls into slavery to sin. Galatians 1:4-5 “Who ["our Lord Jesus Christ" (v.3)] gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen”
You see, the Ten Commandments are introduced by grace—by the Word of God informing us that He is the Lord Who delivered Israel from Egypt. The Ten Commandments have a double purpose—1. They are to convict of sin (Rom 3:19) and (2) they are to give the standard for those who trust Him to know how they are to live well pleasing to God. The Commandments are still in effect today, and they are our rule for a life that can be blessed of God. The fact is that when they were given to Moses, Israel had already been delivered from Egypt and delivered through the Red Sea. They were God’s people. He had brought them out of bondage. Even so, the Lord has bought us out of sin by the price of His Own blood, and He has brought us into the wealthy place of being joint heirs with Christ.
It is well for us to see our for lives under the grace of God, we have standards that we are to keep to please Him.
We were blessed by the services at Harvest Baptist Church last Sunday. In the Morning service, Pastor Josh preached an excellent message from 1 John 5:10-13. Then for the Evening Service we had the privilege of hearing from a Chinese Missionary. This man spent 9 years in Chinese Labor Camps because of his preaching of the gospel, of his winning people to Christ, and of his establishing Bible preaching churches. He expected to be executed at least three different times, but God delivered him; and, now in his seventies, he is still working hard to get the Gospel message to the Chinese people. Praise the Lord.
We are looking forward to great things in March at Harvest Baptist Church. This month we have the following:
Revival-Evangelistic services with Evangelist Ron Comfort
March 14-17
This Four Day Meeting begins a Week from this Sunday.
Please make this series of meetings a priority—you will not regret hearing this man of God. Preaching both services, Sunday, March 14. Services Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 7:00 P.M. Children dismissed during each service for an exciting Children’s Program.
BRING THE FAMILY, BRING FRIENDS, AND BRING NEIGHBORS
Pray for Wil and Terey Kroeker. She has been having unbearable headaches. An MRI this week revealed she has a number of blood vessels grouped together in a clump. The next step is for her to have an angiogram. That will take place in the next few days. This is a very serious problem—and I know she will appreciate your praying with her about this. Also the doctors have learned that Wil has a blockage in the small intestine. They are going to try to clear it with a balloon type procedure. If that does not work, he is going to have t
undergo surgery very soon. So you see we need to be upholding the Kroekers in prayer.
Continue to pray for David Head. He is undergoing extensive therapy right now. And pray for Viola Wall as she is recovering from her recent bout that sent her to the hospital. After the hospitalization, she was at Brookside Inn Nursing Home for a time. Now she has come home and the Heads are ministering to her.
Don’t forget our Big Day, March 28—the day we are calling THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD. On that Sunday, I will be bringing my last message as Pastor and will be stepping down from leadership here at Harvest. In the Afternoon Service (2:00 P.M.), Pastor Josh Musgrave will be installed as Pastor. We want all our people and friends to be with us for this service. We are having a Fellowship Sunday Noon meal together at the Church. We will not have our regular 6:00 P.M. Evening Service that day. Put it on your schedule to be with us for this very eventful day.
My wife and I will look to see you next Sunday at Church. And don’t forget, this being the first Sunday of the month, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper after the Evening Service.
God’s Best To You All.
Pastor Nelson
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