As we find ourselves in the midst of an unprecedented shutdown it is difficult to see the hope of tomorrow. Our minds have trouble looking at the bright side. We are conditioned by the environment we live in to look at the worst case scenario. The input we receive overwhelmingly is negative. Let’s break that chain! Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We have been looking at the Ten Commandments for the few weeks and learning about God’s priority of things. First and foremost as my friend Steve Brown from Key Life would say; “There is a God, you’re not him.” That underlines all that we are. There is a God, a creator, a provider, a comforter, a forgiver, a friend and we do not have to be god. We should find some comfort and security in that statement. There is someone looking out for our best interest, someone who knows our needs and desires; someone who will provide for us regardless of what we see before us. He has promised and He is able to provide.

Deuteronomy 4:39-40; NLT; “So remember this and keep it firmly in mind: The Lord is God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other. If you obey all the decrees and commands I am giving you today, all will be well with you and your children. I am giving you these instructions so you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you for all time.”

Think about what it takes to run a race. We need a racetrack, officials, safety personal, competitors, crew members, fans, press, etc. Although they are independent of each other they each come together in the desire to put a race event together. We cooperate because we see the big picture. Our desire is to participate in something bigger than ourselves. We are wired that way, to want to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.

All that seems to go out the window when we are hard pressed. We get into the mode of self-preservation. That is not attractive. We certainly do not reflect the character of God. We somehow think we can secure everything we need to survive. But I challenge you to look deeper and realize without the efforts of others we would not have the resources available for our lives.

I am reminded of the television series Alone. How long can we survive alone? They take some of the best trained survivalists and isolate them in the wilderness wanting to see how long they can survive. It is a sobering exercise. You begin to see quickly how much the efforts of others have an important place in our lives. We cannot disregard those contributions.

Where does that leave us? We need to learn how to interact and value the lives of others and their contributions to our lives. God knew that. God designed us that way. God provided some guidelines to help us.

Deuteronomy 5:4-5;NLT;At the mountain the Lord spoke to you face to face from the heart of the fire.I stood as an intermediary between you and the Lord, for you were afraid of the fire and did not want to approach the mountain. He spoke to me, and I passed his words on to you. This is what he said:

The 10 Commandments:

  1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
  2. You shall not make idols.
  3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
  4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
  5. Honor your father and your mother.
  6. You shall not murder.
  7. You shall not commit adultery.
  8. You shall not steal.
  9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
  10. You shall not covet.

Let me assure you no one has kept His commandments so don’t be too hard on yourselves. That is why it was necessary for Jesus to come and make atonement for our shortcomings. Even in our inability to honor God he made a provision for us to be forgiven and restored. We need to live a life that reflects our commitment to be obedient to God. When we fall short we also need to show our willingness to ask for forgiveness. All this takes place in the process of acknowledging God, realizing our shortcomings and receiving Jesus into our lives. Then we will be equipped to live a life that shows. A life that reflects the one true God and His plan for our lives.

Romans 10:8b-10; NLT; And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

The challenge in these times is to live a life that acknowledges we are not god. A life that realizes there is a God and receives Jesus as our savior. A life that has the right priorities, God, others, ourselves. Only when we come to the realization that the world does not revolve around us can we begin to see the lives of others as valuable. The Ten Commandments were provided to us as a framework to build our lives around, satisfying and fulfilling lives.

John 10:10; NLT; 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.