“You shall not murder.” – Exodus 20:13
Q: What is the sixth commandment?
A: You shall not murder.
What does this mean?
Because we worship and love God, we shouldn’t hurt or harm other people, but instead we should help them like a friend would.
Did you know that some of God’s people have committed murder? The story of the Bible is a story of redemption and his loving hand of redemption can even reach out to murderers.
Consider these examples:
- One day Moses saw someone abusing one of his people and he killed that man in his anger.
- King David desired to have another man’s wife as his own wife. Do you know what he did? He abused his power and authority and arranged to have that woman’s husband killed.
- The Apostle Paul, the man God used to write over half of the New Testament, before he became a Christian, used to participate in the killing of Christians.
All of these men suffered for their decision to break this commandment. Anytime we choose to go against God’s will for us it usually turns into a painful path that we should never seek to take. But isn’t it comforting to know that God still uses the most unlikely of people for his glory? He can even use someone who does something as grievous as breaking the 6th commandment.
Consider 1 Timothy 1:15, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”
- Why do you think Paul thought that he was the chief of sinners or the foremost of sinners?
- Why did Jesus come into the world?
- If God can save murderers in Jesus, do you think he can save you?
Prayer
Our Father, thank you that your hand of grace is not far from those who repent of their sin. Even the most horrible of sins, like murder. Help us to stand in awe of this amazing grace and have it truly change us. Help us to extend this radical love that you have for us to others who need to hear about it and see it in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.