Rock the Commandments (Re-Post)

This is a re-post of my “Rock the Commandment” series of posts. I’ll be running these on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week as we lead up to Palm Sunday.

You can be holy.

Sure. Why not? Be holy as I am holy (1Pt 1:16). Must be simple, right?

Think about it. Ten commandments - how hard can they be? And Christ broke it down to the two biggies: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt 22:37-39).

Simple.

Then why is it so hard? That's what we're going to look at for ten straight Mondays, starting today. Beginning with the First Commandment, and working our way through, we'll be looking at a number of prompts. These will help us to see what we're doing, and how to keep better to the straight and narrow.

Now, granted, the review is easy. It's walking the walk that can be hard. But our struggle with the flesh - and the temptations of the enemy - will be discussed later. Right now, let's just do the inventory. No point getting ahead of ourselves.

I'm putting these up on Mondays so the start of the week doesn't blow away everything we did and learned on Sunday. Also, reviewing these for a few days can be very effective. I don't know about you, but repeating things like this help me a great deal.

Most of these prompts come from A Pocket Prayer Book for Orthodox Christians. If you're familiar with these, you may find I've adapted some, added a few and may even comment from time to time. But I think you'll come up with plenty of thoughts on your own.

And, as always, if any error slips in, it's all mine.

Let's take a look.

The First Commandment

"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me" (Ex. 20:2,3).

We worship the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit - one God. At least we try. But now consider these thoughts. They cut me to the heart every time I read them - and never in quite the same way.

+ Have I believed in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit?

+ Have I failed to trust in God and His mercy?

+ Have I complained against God in adversity?

+ Have I been thankful for God's blessings?

+ Have I doubted the Christian faith and the teachings of the Church?

+ Have I tried to serve God and keep His commandments?

+ Have I given way to superstition?

+ Have I frequented the religious meetings of heretics, those who would divide the church or those who follow false gods?

+ Have I neglected my duties to God through fear of ridicule or persecution?

+ Have I failed to pray to God faithfully?

+ Have I put myself before God?

I've been guilty on all counts at one time or another. More often than I care to admit - and that's pride. So I keep on trying. Of course, no one can achieve holiness on their own. It requires the grace of God - and our cooperation with that grace, so generously given.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

And everything within me, bless His holy name.

-Psalm 103:1 (102 LXX)