(Exodus 21:16) “He who kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or he is found in his possession, shall surely be put to death."
(Exodus 23:4-5) “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall refrain from leaving it to him, you shall surely release it with him."
(Deuteronomy 23:24-25) “When you enter your neighbor’s vineyard, then you may eat grapes until you are fully satisfied, but you shall not put any in your basket. 25 “When you enter your neighbor’s standing grain, then you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not wield a sickle in your neighbor’s standing grain."
(Deuteronomy 27:17) ‘Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary mark.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Reminder: "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will. When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!
It is God's will:
- that we do not steal
- that we do not kidnap
- that we return lost possessions to the rightful owners
- that we do not take away from other people's crops
- that we do not steal land by shifting boundary lines
Today's prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for showing us in Your word that there are many different ways in which a person can steal. Taking anything that is not ours. Taking or destroying anything that someone will have to replace with their time, effort and/or money. Or taking (recording, plagiarizing...) anything (like written words, song lyrics, music, movies, computer programming...) which is used to make a profit off of someone else's work. Or identity theft!
Now with the internet, and telemarketing, there seems to be so many ways people are able to scam money off of the vulnerable or unsuspecting. Please protect us! Give us wisdom.
Keep us from temptation when it comes to those "fine lines" like when we file our income taxes, or a cashier accidentally gives us too much change back.
Help change the attitude of television and movie producers when it comes to topics like shoplifting. There are so many sitcoms and movies where they teach the viewers that it's not only okay, but you are not cool until you do. The thinking that it's only stealing from the "evil" insurance companies is false. The raise in insurance costs will be transferred down to the company, and then down to the consumers - all of us - the elderly on a small pension plan - the struggling parent who is just trying to make ends meet...
Lord, help us think of the welfare of others in everything we do. Amen.
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