"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." Philippians 3:7-8 ESV
The tragedy of Christmas is that we are doing exactly the opposite in our celebration. Instead of emptying, we are so busy filling ourselves with so many things. But the message of Christmas is not of filling but of emptying, for Christ himself emptied himself.
Wayne Grudem: “When we lie we dishonor God and diminish his glory, for we, as those created in God’s image and created for the purpose of reflecting God’s glory in our lives, are acting in a way that is contrary to God’s own character.”
Kung sa Diyos ang tiwala mo na magbibigay ng lahat ng kailangan mo, hindi ka maghahanap sa iba, hindi mo aangkinin o pagnanasahan man lang ang hindi para sa ‘yo. “Huwag kayong magmukhang pera; at masiyahan na kayo sa anumang nasa inyo. Sapagkat sinabi ng Diyos, Hindi kita iiwan ni pababayaan man'” (Heb 13:5 MBB).
Nilagay ng Diyos ang mga sexual and relational boundaries na ‘to for our good and for his glory. Alam ng Diyos, in his wise design, na ang sexual intimacy para maging good for us and glorifying to him ay sa relasyon lang ng mag-asawa.
Kapag nakikita mo na itong “murder” ay ginagawa lang ng mga kriminal, you see the problem as outside of you. You feel better than other people, nagiging self-righteous ka. Kasi di mo nakikita na this “murder” is also in your heart. Hayaan mo ngayon na itong utos/batas na ‘to ay magsilbing salamin sa kundisyon ng puso mo. Not primarily for others, but for you.
Our parents are responsible to God sa mga pagkukulang at mga kasalanan nila sa atin. But we don’t put yung blame sa kanila sa mga sinful responses naman natin o i-excuse o i-justify ang paglabag natin sa ika-5 utos. We are responsible for our own sinful actions. So, the primary problem why we find it so hard to obey the fifth is not because of our parents. But because of the hardness of our hearts.
