Worship 501: Taking What Belongs To Others

MONDAY

Exodus 20:16reads “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor”. This week we will read about how an expert in the law tested Jesus and sought to justify himself by asking the question, “Who is my neighbor?”. Before we examine this part of the commandment, we should first understand how the Lord feels when we speak anything false. For a deeper understanding, let’s read Acts 5:1-11. Read carefully - What happened to Ananias and Sapphira? Why? In verses 3 and 4, Peter convicts Ananias of lying - Who does he say he lied to? Read verse 7. Sapphira had an opportunity to tell the truth or continue in the lie. What did Peter ask her? What was the lie they were telling? Ananias and Sapphira wanted the brethren to think they sold their house and gave all of the money to the Lord. Why do you think they wanted to do this? Perhaps they wanted everyone to pat them on the back. They didn’t have to do this, as Peter pointed out in verse 4. Think of ways you seek to make yourself look better to a brother or a sister. Have you ever said something that wasn’t altogether true? Who are you really lying to? “Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up.” (James 4:10)

TUESDAY

We know that the Lord does not want us to speak what is false. Ananias and Sapphira truly found out the hard way. Now let’s look at another part of the commandment. God commands his people not to speak falsely about their neighbor. Read Luke 10:25-37. You will see Jesus define who and what a neighbor is - something the teachers of the law were unable to do. If you are unfamiliar with the relationship between the Jews and the Samaritans (Gentiles), research it in a good study Bible or commentary. The “expert in the law” was seeking to justify himself, not to learn. He probably treated those he considered neighbors (like his fellow Jews) pretty good, but judging by what Jesus said to him, how do you think he viewed non-Jews (such as the Samaritans)? Read the parable and stand in awe of God who knows the heart of every man! What did the priests and the Levites do when they saw the man who was suffering? Weren’t they supposed to love their neighbor as themselves ( Lev. 19:13-18)? Didn’t they consider this man a neighbor? How about the Samaritan? Apply this to your own life. Do you consider all people as your neighbor or only certain people? Do you avoid some people because of something you consider undesirable about them? If so then today is the day to repent! Love your neighbor as yourself! Speak the Word of God to someone you may have passed up otherwise. Remember that someone did this for you.

WEDNESDAY

God’s heart is filled with love for us and he understands more than we do the consequences of our sin. How many people throughout history have been wrongly hurt, brutalized, imprisoned and even killed because of a false testimony made against them? We begin to learn how powerful this sin is as children the very first time we get away with blaming someone else for something we did-”I didn’t do it-he did it!” False testimony is an extremely dangerous sin. Look at Matthew 26:69-75. In these passages we read about Peter giving false testimony about Jesus. What caused him to do this? Who did it effect besides himself? Read Luke 22:54-61 for further insight. Not only did Peter give false testimony about Jesus, he also missed a great (evangelistic) opportunity to love his neighbor as himself. Next read Acts 16:16-24 . When Paul and Silas got in the way of somebody’s money-making operation, how did the people respond (see verse 19)? What did they use as a weapon against Paul and Silas? - false testimony. The results were devastating! However, the Lord in his usual awesomeness turns it to spectacular! Read the rest of the chapter. Our society promotes and rewards false testimony. The courtrooms are filled with people seeking to make money by filing false claims against one another. The Lord changes us just as he changed Peter from a false testifier to a preacher of truth. See his true testimony in Acts 2:22-36.

THURSDAY

Read Exodus 23:1-9. The NIV labels these as laws of justice and mercy. As you read them, think of ways you are guilty of breaking these laws. What kinds of things sway you to give false testimony? Have you ever hurt someone by giving in to your heart this way? Now read Numbers 13 and 14. What did God promise in 13:1, 2? In verse 32, what caused the Israelites to doubt? What did this lead the Israelites to say and believe in 14:1-4? Do you see how damaging false testimony is? Was God bringing the Israelites into Canaan only so they could die by the sword? The bad report, which was faithless and false, caused the whole nation to doubt. As a result, they were deprived entrance into the promised land. Think of some ways you have spoken faithlessly. What did you say and how did it affect the Body? Read on in this chapter and learn from the faithful responses of Joshua and Caleb (see verses 5-9). Call a brother or sister today and speak faithful words to them!

FRIDAY

Wasn’t yesterday’s reading awesome? How do we fulfill the commands God has given us today? Read Galatians 5:1-15. What happened to the Galatians in verses 1-9? How did a false teaching affect them spiritually? In verses 10-15, what was the way to overcome the damage done by this false testimony? Read Romans 13:8-10 and discover how to fulfill the law. Write verse 10 on an index card and memorize it.

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