Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

"You shall not murder.
(Exodus 20:13 (NIV))

Have you committed murder?

Most of us have not physically taken a life, but there are other things that we need to be aware of.

Jesus put it into context for us.

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, `Raca, ' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, `You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
(Matthew 5:21-22 (NIV))

God has clearly defined for us that to take another life is a sin, yet, how many times have we said things in anger that could convict us just the same?

We may have learned to put up a front to society and to ourselves, yet, our thoughts can be just as sinful, if not more so, than our actual actions.

Sin is a matter of the heart!

A heart that longs to do the Will of God will still sin, for we are all sinners by nature. Those who profess a faith in Jesus and daily follow Him will still stumble and fall, but we can get back up, repent, and then continue in our walk with Jesus. Their thoughts will focus on God and the things that are righteous.

For those who do not profess a faith in Jesus, there is no desire to be righteous in the eyes of God. Someone who does not focus on God focuses on themselves.

I have it heard it said that sin has as its basis the human desire to be at the center of all things. Sin focuses on "me" and what "I" can get from things quickly. It is this type of an attitude that makes a person's thoughts stray from what God would have you think about. "Me" turns to anger and anger into actions. The only difference is the physical act, yet, the heart still had the very same intentions.

Perhaps it is the intention that convicts us of our sins.

What thoughts have you had recently? Would you be convicted?

Do your intentions convict you?

Copyright 1998 - 2026 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
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