Faith, Trials & The 10 Commandments

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Heb 11:1

Fear brings in bad things, while faith brings good.

In order to know who someone really is deep down inside, they must be caught by surprise.  They will either be selfish or selfless. The selfless find each other, the selfish stay by themselves, not trusting anyone.  People seek their own kind, matching minds and souls.

Our real selves do not come out until we are tried and tested.  We may not even know ourselves, what we are made of, until we are faced with trials so severe that we are either broken or strengthened by the event.  We grow more from pain and hardship, than when things are easy.

The only way to make it through troubled times is not to worry about yourself.  Devote your thoughts and energy to others.

There are many people who have used childhood hardships as a springboard for tremendous adult spiritual strength.

We are all children of God, and being his children is our common denominator.  Many different faiths have a lot of truth.  The very fact of arguing, fighting and warring over religion is in direct opposition to Christ's teachings.  He asks us to love one another, to treat each other with kindness, whether we are scholars of scriptures or just learning how to pray.  There may be more truth in some churches than others, but you have to understand that some people are not ready for the more advanced teachings.  Living the ten commandments is hard for a lot of people, so they need simpler laws.  As long as they desire to draw closer to Christ, then their hearts are in the right place.  There should be no discrimination in people's hearts, no boasting, no selfishness, only words of kindness, encouragement, humor, and love.

- S. Freeman

10 Commandments:
1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy
5. Honor thy father and thy mother
6. Thou shalt not kill
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery
8. Thou shalt not steal
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's possessions

Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Matt. 22: 36-40