Boundary Stones

I think I've mentioned a time or ten that we are doing Beth Moore's Breaking Free Study at church. One day this week the study discussed Ancient Boundary Stones.



I wrote this as an email to my bible study girls and it really was such a great reminder for me (as well as convicting!) that I thought I would share it with you all too!


In one of our days of homework this week, we took a look at those ancient boundary stones. A boundary stone was used to mark the division between landowner's property. There are still boundary stones around. In Washington DC, there are still real boundary stones that mark where the boundaries used to be . Did that sentence make sense? Maybe not......
Anyway - I think you get the picture! So , what are our boundary stones? Well there are alot of boundaries given to us in the bible but the 10 commandments are the "ancient ones."
As I was studying them this week, I came across this list that adds to the meaning of each boundary stone.
The 10 Commandments said: "You shall have no other God's before me "(Exodus 20:3)
Jesus said: "Worship the Lord your God, and serve only HIM." (Matthew 4:10)
**Worship is a state of mind. When we come to church prepared to worship, that is what will happen. Regardless, of all else. **
The 10 Commandments said: "You shall not make for yourself an idol" (Exodus 20:4)
Jesus said: " No servant can serve two masters" (Luke 16:13)
* *We can't serve two master's. Either the world and it's values will be our master or God will. We have to make a choice! Choose this day to obey HIM! **
The 10 Commandments said: "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God" (Exodus 20:7)
Jesus said: "Do not swear at all; either by heaven, for it is God's throne."
(Matthew 5:34)
*We should have enough integrity to let our 'yes' by 'yes' and our 'no' be 'no'. **
The 10 Commandments said: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy."
Jesus said: "The Sabbath wa made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."(Mark 2: 27,28)
** Jesus said that we should have a day that is kept holy. A day that we spend worshipping, thinking on, and talking about HIM. **
The 10 Commandments said: "Honor your fahter and your mother" (exodus 20:12)
Jesus said: "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10: 37)
**We should honor our parents, it isn't wrong to do so. But if we try to please
them more that God, then we are wrong to do so. **
The 10 Commandments said: "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:!3)
Jesus said: "Anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgement." (Matthew 5:22)
**It is easy to say I would NEVER murder someone. But we murder people in our thoughts all of the time when we have angry, sinful thoughts about them.**
The 10 Commandments said: "You shall not commit adultry." (Exodus 20:14)
Jesus said: "Anyone who looks at a woman (or man) lustfully has already committed adultry with her (or him) in his (or her) heart." (Matthew 5:28)
**Again, it's about our thoughts here. God cares more about the things that come of our hearts!!**
The 10 Commandments said: "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15)
Jesus said: "If someone wants to sue you and take you tunic, let him have your cloak as well."
** I wonder what a different world we would live in if peole no longer sued folks.**
The 10 Commandments said: "You shall not give false testimony" (Exodus 20:16)
Jesus said: "Men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken" (Matthew 5:40)
**Girls! We have got to stop letting careless, cruel, mean and heartless words come out of our mouths. We should only be saying things that are of God. I wonder if we stopped to think about the words we say and how they affect other people -- the ones being talked about as well as the ones hearing the words -- how different our speech would be."
The 10 Commandments said: You shall not covet" (Exodus 20:17)
Jesus said: "Be on your guard against all kinds of greed." (Luke 12:15)
** Another one that hits home! As much as I hate to say it, we American's are the greediest people in the world. It is because of greed that or economy tanked. The American Way is getting us in deep trouble with our Lord, I'm afraid. **

WOW! What a lot of reminders for me this day and I hope you, too.
Girls, we are in this study to be changed. Let us NOT remove the ancient boundary stones in our lives. And let's remember that God values what is in our hearts even more that the actions we take. Because he knows what's in our hearts is connected to how we think. And the things we are thinking eventually leads to actions.
Have a great Thursday afternoon an evening everyone!









In HIM -