Don't Steal & Amazing Grace

"I was blind but now I see!" John 9:25

"You shall not steal." Exodus 20:15 (8th Commandment)

It seems that this command is perfectly clear and doesn't permit misinterpretation, except perhaps for the word "steal." In case there should be any doubt in anyone's mind what the word "steal" encompasses, here is the definition from Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th Edition:

steal vb stole; stolen; stealing [ME stelen, fr. OE stelan; akin to OHG stelan to steal] vi (bef. 12c)

1 : to take the property of another wrongfully and especially as an habitual or regular practice

a : to take or appropriate without right or leave and with intent to keep or use wrongfully (stole a
car)
b : to take away by force or unjust means (they've stolen our
liberty)
c : to take surreptitiously or without permission (~ a kiss)
d : to appropriate to oneself or beyond one's proper share …

syn STEAL, PILFER, FILCH, PURLOIN mean to take from another without right or without detection.
STEAL may apply to any surreptitious taking of something and differs from the other terms by commonly applying to
intangible as well as material things (steal jewels) (stole a look at the gifts). PILFER implies stealing repeatedly in small amounts (pilfered from his employer). FILCH adds a suggestion of snatching quickly and surreptitiously (filched an apple from the tray). Purloin stresses removing for
one's own use or purposes (printed a purloined document).

I do accept Your will, O God, And all Your ways adore; And every day I live I'll seek To please You more and more. -Anon.

In His will is our peace. -Dante

In times of difficulty or loss, we should seek God's help and deliverance. But we must still trust Him if He does not answer our prayers the way we want Him to.
Have we learned to take no for an answer? -Albert Lee

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"I was blind but now I see!" John 9:25
Today's Music: Amazing Grace.

AMAZING GRACE

Words: John Newton, Olney Hymns (London: W. Oliver, 1779). Exception: the last stanza is by an unknown author; it apeared as early as 1829 in the Baptist Songter, by R. Winchell (Wethersfield, Connecticut), as the last stanza of the song "Jerusalem My Happy Home."

This is probably the most popular hymn in the English language--a television documentary was even made about it. Perhaps it is because its words so well describe the author: John Newton was a slave trader before coming to Christ. It was sung at the funeral of American President Ronald Regan.

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Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me here below,
Shall be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we'd first begun.