–John 10:1 (NKJV)
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I wrote a while back about the importance of punctuality.  That a person who is not punctual is actually stealing.  They’re stealing from their employer’s time, and from their responsibilities along with the fact that they are building a negative aspect to their reputation.  My ballplayers always knew that if they were not on time the bus would not wait for them.
      “You shall not steal.” (Exodus 20:15)  When we look at the face of the statement, we say sure, that’s easy.  “Don’t rob banks, or take something that does not belong to you.”  But Begg sheds a brighter light on the commandment.  He says that the commandment implies two biblical principles (and progressive socialists take note).  First it implies the right to private property.  Second, it implies the sovereign ownership of God over all He has made.  “God owns all things, and He grants temporary stewardship to us.  So to steal something from someone is an offense against God as the ultimate owner and against the person who is stewarding it.” (Alistair Begg)  You might scoff, but in reality that is true–you’ve never seen a hearse pulling a u-haul.  No matter how hard a man works for wealth and possessions here, he can’t take it with him into eternity.
       Are you a thief?  Did you ever snitch from the cookie jar?  When Annie makes biscuits or cookies, my mercy it’s hard to keep from snatching one up.  That can’t be borrowing, ’cause you can’t give it back once it’s down in the gullet past those taste buds.  Oh, it’s only stealing if you get caught?  Let’s look deeper into what stealing really is.

          –blatant theft
          –borrowing something we fail to return
          –keeping dishonest records
          –misusing our employer’s time
          –paying unjust wages, withholding wages, or delaying wages
          –slandering others, thereby stealing their reputation
          –sinning sexually with another, thereby stealing their moral purity
          –plagiarizing, thereby stealing someone else’s work
          –cheating in the classroom
          –failing to give God what we owe Him (Begg)

One of the biggest problems I had in the later years of my teaching was that of plagiarism.  Some students were downright blatant, others tried to be sneaky.  I don’t know which is worse–the blatant thief, or the sneak-thief.
       Why do people steal?  Oh, there could be myriad reasons, but the simple reason is that it is caused by sin.  Coveting, greed, laziness, slothfulness, addictions, plus all of the excuses that people have.  Some want to take a short-cut to wealth believing that the end justifies the means.  Years ago I remember the story of a group of longshoremen on the east coast.  I don’t remember the city, but there was a revival that broke out and it moved out onto the docks.  Men were saved by the droves and within weeks, tools that had “disappeared” were returned to the tool shed.  In fact, they ended up with more tools than were actually on the inventory.  
       Paul writes, “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” (Ephesians 4:28, NKJV)  Don’t shirk in your work.  Don’t do less quality work.  To not do your best is cheating yourself, your employer, and God.  Make the most of the time given you–in other words, don’t steal time.  That is one thing you cannot give back in restitution.
       I remember a missionary from years ago while we were attending Evangel Bible Church in Colorado Springs spoke about robbing God.  In the country where he ministered at the communion service a pastor would place individuals in a certain part of the sanctuary and not allow them to partake of the communion.  He said the reason was that they were robbing God by not paying their tithes.  He said they were already cursed, and didn’t want to make it worse by taking of the elements unworthily.  Hmm, what would happen in churches if that were practiced today?  But there is a stern warning in Malachi, “‘Will a man rob God?’  Yet you have robbed Me!  But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’  In tithes and offerings.  You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation.'”  (Malachi 3:8-9, NKJV)  To take it a step further, many rob God by not using the talents, time, and skills given to them by God for the Kingdom.  Be careful of the sin of Ananias and Sapphira.

               “All to Jesus I surrender,
               All to Him I freely give;
               I will ever love and trust Him,
               In His service daily live.”
                       –J.W. VanDeVenter

                    –Romans 8:18 (NKJV)
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I’m not sure how it is now, but when I was serving in the military one of our most prized possessions was our shot records.  To lose those, oh my, the agony.  They were as vital to our well-being as our financial records.  I never had trouble taking shots, in fact, in basic training they used the “gun.”  I liked it; it was easy, and quick.  Then from that point on, especially if you were going to another country, a third-world country, you would have to take certain shots.  The purpose–protection.  With that in mind, let’s look at the next part of Psalm 91.

          7 — A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.
          8 — Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked.
          9 — Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place,
        10 — No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling.  (NKJV)

       “Wait a minute?”  I hear you cry.  John the Baptist lost his head; Stephen was stoned to death; James was killed with the sword, and I had loved ones die with COVID.  Yes, yes, that may be true, however, nothing destroyed their relationship with God, and should not have destroyed yours if you lost someone close and dear.  
       Normally we think of verse 7 as a physical battle, but think of it.  How many did you see fall during the “pandemic”?  Perhaps, a different sort of thought, how many did you see lose their faith, faltering and quivering with fear?  Open your eyes, isn’t that a deeper danger?  Should we not realize that our relationship (there’s that word again) is with the Lord?  We should be living in Him; He is our refuge and dwelling place (verses 1-2),  No matter what storm, battle, disease, pestilence, that may be around you, the Lord is there to protect you–the real, deeper you.
       This psalm doesn’t mean “we will be immune to all disease or danger, but we do know that the Lord will keep us safe from eternal harm.” (William Petersen).   Remember, nothing can touch God’s people unless God allows it.  Let me give you a word of warning:  do not use God’s word flippantly.  For example, the other day a person replied to the concern of another during a storm that occured, “we’re fine, we’re covered with the blood.”  There is something missing here.  This is not a statement of faith, but one of not understanding the Scriptures, not realizing reality.  The rain falls on the just and the unjust.  Derek Kidner wrote, “Verse 10 is a statement of providence, not a charm against adversity.”  Read the Epistles of the New Testament, and the words of Jesus.  There is adversity for the believer; there is suffering, but there is security in the knowledge that the Lord will not forsake His people.

               “What I have to dread, what have I to fear,
               Leaning on the everlasting arms?
               I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
               Leaning on the everlasting arms.”
                       –Elisha A. Hoffman

                    –C. Wayne Winkle  (Down the Long Trail)

       “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

                    –Matthew 11:28(NKJV)
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I wrote yesterday about a subtle way that we slide from the way of the Lord.  I want us to look at another way this morning.  Throughout the years I have heard many decry the “Law”, that we no longer have to keep it, that we live under grace.  True, but only that we are under grace, the Law is there for us to keep.  It is a measuring tool that shows the standard that is to be kept and that we often fall short.  The extreme grace people say that they are no longer under the law at all and they are free to do what they will.  I echo the words of Paul, God forbid!  Richard Dresselhaus states, “God’s way is lawfulness…but man’s way is lawlessness. That is…God’s way is restraint…and man’s way is life without restraint.”  D.L. Moody said that  “God has given us the law to measure ourselves by…”  For sure there are cultural laws and laws of society that do not pertain, however the relational laws and moral laws remain.
       Today, I want to look at the Fourth Commandment–“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8, NKJV)  Sabbath?  What are you talking about?  The Sabbath was Saturday.  Yes, but if you think that you’re missing the greater concept.  I remember, years ago, when Safeway was one of the few stores open in Boulder on a Sunday.  Around 12:30 there would be an influx of people–church-goers.  My Mom was a checker (cashier) and she often had to work on Sunday.  These people would come to the store and while my Mom was checking out their goods, they would bemoan her fate.  “It’s a shame that you have to work on Sunday,” they would say.  My Mom, without expression would reply, “Someone has to wait on you church-goers who go shopping.”
       Alistair Beggs has written, “Somewhere along the way, some have decided that the fourth commandment is not like the rest of the commandments but rather is a relic that belongs in the past.  In truth though, the command to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy has abiding significance for us all, even today.”  This commandment is as binding as the other nine.  True, our society has changed, and many are required to work on Sunday, but that does not negate the concept of the day set aside for the Lord.  Over the years I have answered students that if the father or mother has to work on Sunday another day should be set aside for contemplation of the Lord.  Begg gives reasons for the downgrading of this commandment, “We don’t like its implications.  We don’t like the way it intrudes into our lives, our leisure, and whatever else takes precedence in our hearts.”
       The Sabbath Day/Sunday ought to be treasured.  It should be a day not of what we have to do, but of what we love to do.  It should be a day of enjoying the Lord’s presence, the study of God’s word, and the fellowship of God’s people. (Begg)  The question is how do we keep the day of rest–the Lord’s Day?  Is it a day off for recreation?  Perhaps a day for the kid’s ball games.  (Incidentally, one of the reasons I put aside baseball and playing on the base softball team was that every Sunday was a game day).
Is there something keeping you from reading God’s Word on Sunday?  Is the day filled with activities that keep you from praying, studying, resting in the Lord?  Do we work, work, work, and push that work onto Sunday?  Begg relates, “We should make it our aim not to let the cares of the other six days push into our spiritual enjoyment of the first day of the week.”  
       In keeping the Sabbath/the Lord’s Day be careful of being pharisaical, of developing your own self-righteousness.  Make it a day of rest, and enjoyment with fellow believers, with family and close friends.  Truly let it become a day of being in the presence of the Lord, and not stopping it after leaving the walls of the church.  Exodus 20:11, tells us, “…Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”  

                    –Robert Peecher  (Four Days Outside of Del Norte)

       “Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.”

                   –Psalm 25:5 (NKJV)
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Leadership, what is it?  There are many thoughts, many books have been written on the subject.  Look at the current “leadership” of the United States.  Is that really leadership?  When I taught my apologetics class I always included a unit on “Leadership.”  We must understand that we are all involved in it in one form or another.  When I was a sergeant, I was a leader, but not in the same role or capacity as the captain.  I think most people think they are followers, but in reality they have sometimes, in some cases, been in the role of leadership.  We all to a certain extent influence others.  Ecclesiastes 8:1-9 gives some clues as to what leadership it.

          “Who is like a wise man?  And who knows the interpretation of a thing?  A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the sternness of his face is changed.”
                             –Ecclesiastes 8:1 (NKJV)

       First of all, a leader must have a clear mind.  He must be able to see all aspects of a situation.  “Interpretation” means to see the whole picture.  Literally it means, “solution, someone who sees through the mystery of something.”  The person who knows how will usually have a job, working for the one who knows why.  Remember, action cannot outrun thinking!  A clear mind is a must!  Someone has said that “a mist in the pulpit puts a fog in the pew.”  Are you clearly being taught the unadulterated word of God?  Is your mind clear or cluttered and able to hear properly?
       Notice also the aspect of a cheerful disposition.  Eisenhower said that a leader keeps his tears for his pillow.  His face must show something different:  optimism, joy, hope, etc.  The leader must realize that life is more than a burden and convey that thought to those who follow him.  People are looking for hope, for cheer and as Helmut Thielecke said, “A church is in a bad way when it banishes laughter from the sanctuary and leaves it to the cabaret, the nightclub, and the toastmaster.”  However, that being said, the pulpit is not the place of entertainment, but a place of hope, of direction in a dreary world.
       Three other things seen in verses 1-9 are:  a discreet mouth–the leader cannot be frivolous with his talk.  Their voice and words set the tone of an organization.  They need to be tactful with what they say.  Tact–the speaking of truth giving the least possible offense.  Second, there must be keen judgment.  There should be no manipulation.  To have proper judgment there should be knowledge.  The good leader will know the proper time to do what ought to be done.  Third, the leader must have a humble spirit.  It is hard, in fact, it is impossible to change another’s spirit; that must come from God.  The leader must always let God maintain control.
       One more thought–LIFE.  Winston Churchill made the statement, “It is a riddle, wrapped up in a mystery, inside an enigma.”  No matter what lane you get in on the highway, especially during construction, it always slows down.  Why when making a sandwich, and for some reason you drop it in the midst of making it will it always fall facedown?  We need to realize that as we travel this journey of life there will be many things we cannot explain.  For example, try to explain the Incarnation, or the Resurrection, or the concept of the Atonement.  How?  Why?  Remember God’s wisdom in not academic, and no one, that includes the greatest of theologians and preachers, can be an authority on the mysteries of God.  The words of A.W. Tozer are true, “The idea of God as infinitely wise is at the root of all truth…  Being what He is without regard to creatures, God is, of course, unaffected by our opinions of Him.”