You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way.

Today’s Bible Verses: 1 Thessalonians 5:14

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

Until Friday this devotional, we will reflect upon the Ten Commandments. If you do not have a physical copy of the updated Small Catechism, you can purchase one at Amazon by clicking here. If you wish to download a copy onto a Kindle or iPad, you can click here for the Kindle edition and click here for the Apple Books version.

There are always times where we say something when we should have thought twice. It happens. Sin in our hearts wells up and we snap. Whether it is an action of a family member or friend or some political leader making a speech, we all find ourselves in the position where we should have held our tongues. We fail this commandment when we speak ill of others, using the megaphone of our mouths to mock others even if we think we’re right and they are wrong. God gives us this commandment to focus our lives on loving our neighbor instead of calling bad or evil. When we hold our tongues in those tight situations where we would normally explode with words of ill repute, we remind ourselves of God’s love for us. For He could very easily call us out for our words and actions. Instead, when we repent of our failings, God doesn’t yell at us. He forgives our trespasses.

PRAYERS

Keep in Your Prayers:

1. Pray for those in public office and for ourselves, that we look at our political leaders not with anger and malice, but with grace and mercy in our hearts.

2. Those who reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Prayer for Wednesday:

Heavenly Father, grant me the patience to be a person of good cheer who puts the best construction on all things and people this day. In Jesus’ name, I pray.. Amen.

Luther’s Morning Prayer:

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.. Amen.

Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

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