Now that we've gone through the first four commandments about our posture toward God, we turn to God's commandments about how we are to live with one another, beginning with "Honor your father and your mother."

Honoring ancestors is an ancient tradition that extends beyond cultures and peoples. In Jesus time, people had come up with human rules that people were using to dismiss caring for their parents in their old age, and Jesus did not approve. Honor matters.

Honoring loving parents is easy and looks different than honoring abusive parents, even abusive parents who have attempted reconciliation. Forgiveness then becomes the way we move forward, honestly letting go of the resentment instead of dying by our own poison.

Pastor Steve Tollefson brings today's message of honor and forgiveness.

God has a response to the craziness in life, "Remember the Sabbath day and treat it as holy." In the Fourth Commandment, God tells us rest is not optional.

With so many things going on, we ignore the rest and renewal that God commands and then we suffer. The consequnce of neglecting the spiritual garden leads to literal and figurative death in the form of burnout, health problems, and broken relationships. God's commandment to rest once a week is important and it's a first. Before the Fourth Commandment, no other god, deity, or ruler had ever ordered a day off for renewal and revereance for God.

The Fourth Commandment can help us be our best selves. And ironically, it might be one of the most challenging for many us. Why is obeying the commandment for rest and renewal so difficult? One reason is our society admires and rewards overwork. We forget the Fourth Commandment applies to everyone--which includes each of us.

On the Sabbath, we can take the time to connect to God. That's why church is important. Pastor Mia tells us the renewal we receive by connecting to God isn't recovery from the past week. It's rejuvenation for taking on the week ahead.

Don't cuss! That's one typical childhood interpretation of the Third Commandment. Of course, we shouldn't mix God's name in with a string of nasty language. However, the use of naughty words isn't the primary meaning of "Do not use the Lord your God's name as if it were of no significance."

One purpose of the Third Commandment is to stress the importance of keeping promises and telling the truth, epscially when using God's name. Think about the oath witnesses take in the American court system. They swear to "Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God." We need to be able to believe each other to function in society.

The Ten Commandments give us guidance for living together. The Third Commandment, reminds us that integrity matters. When you're known as a Christian, others see your speech and actions as a reflection of your character--and God's. Despite good intentions, we sometimes break the Third Commandment unintentionally. This type of violation happens when heartbreaking life events such as a cancer diasnosis and the death of a child are attributed to God's will. In these scenarios, we're using God's name in ways that are inconsistent with God's character.

Pastor Mia reminds us that representing God well in our daily lives is not optional. Think about what you say and what you do. Your words and actions can color God's reputation.