The Fence of Faith

January 21, 2022
Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
Exodus 20:14, Proverbs 2:10-12

While working through the ten commandments in my sermons, I am now on #7; “You shall not commit adultery”. I am thankful for Jesus and his way to bring God’s law to life right where we are, just as he did for the people who would listen and follow him in the first century. You see, Jesus said; “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28).

Adultery, like any other temptation, begins in the mind. God, in his mercy, has given us a fence to protect us in our decisions, the fence is his commandment. Some might believe that they don’t need to worry about this commandment because lust is not a problem for them. I would caution all of us, not to think so highly of ourselves that we lose touch with the state of our thinking and then find ourselves dealing with the consequences of those thoughts that suddenly became a behavior. Pastor Ron Mehl gave me the illustration of the fence in his book The Ten(der) Commandments; “Why should a rodeo cowboy [run to] a fence? Because the fence isn’t there to restrict and restrain the rider, it is there to restrain the bull.

That’s what God’s commandments do for us; they protect us. They put a barrier between us and that which would destroy us. They place a restraint on our flesh that wants what it wants at any cost” (pg. 172). We need to walk in God’s wisdom every step of every day and when we do, God gives us a promise; “Wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted” (Proverbs 2:10-12). This life sometimes feels like a rodeo to me; sometimes holding on for dear life, and sometimes running like crazy for find a safe place to just breathe. If you are feeling that way today, let me encourage you; take a moment right now and simply thank God for making you the way you are, and for his Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts, and then listen to him.

AMEN