Living in peace

On Sunday morning, Remembrance Day, we came to the sixth commandment.  It is often misquoted as 'Do not kill' - and with that questions are raised about the justification of war. We didn't address such questions, and I am not going to now either - apart from reminding us that he commandment actually says 'You shall not murder'. As we turn to the catechism, we see that the commandment is more concerned about how we live than big moral questiosn.

Q11.  What does God require in the sixth, seventh and eighth commandments?

A. Sixth, that we do not hurt, or hate or be hostile to our neighbour, but be patient and peaceful, pursing even our enemies with love.  Seventh, that we abstain from sexual immorality and live purely and faithfully, whether in marriage or in single life, avoiding all impure actions, looks, words, thoughts, or desires, and whatever might lead to the.  Eighth, that we do not take without permission that which belongs to someone else, nor withhold any good from someone we might benefit.

Put God's law to the test - what would the world be like if we lived like this? It would mean that we are living without fear.  We would know true security.  We could always trust the people we meet, as they seek to bless us rather than take from us. We would be living in peace. Pray, work, live to that end.