Welcome to this Saturday edition of Our Daily Bread. I'm Kirsten Holmberg, and I titled

Today's Reading, Adolescent Faith. The teenage years are sometimes among the most

agonizing seasons in life for both parent and child.

In my adolescent quest to individuate from my mother, I openly rejected her values and rebelled

against her rules, suspicious that her purposes were merely to make me miserable.

Though we've since come to agree on those matters,

that time in our relationship was riddled with tension. Mom undoubtedly lamented my refusal

to heed the wisdom of her instructions, knowing they would spare me unnecessary, emotional,

and physical pain. God had the same heart for his children, Israel.

God imparted his wisdom for living in what we know as the Ten Commandments.

Though they could be viewed as a list of rules, God's intention is evident in his words to Moses

in Deuteronomy chapter 5, so that it might go well with them

and their children forever. Moses recognized God's desire, saying that obedience to the decrees would

result in their enjoyment of his ongoing presence with them in the promised land. We all go through a season of

adolescence with God, not trusting that his guidelines for living are truly meant for our good.

May we grow into the realization that he wants what's best for us and learn to heed the wisdom

he offers. His guidance is meant to lead us

into spiritual maturity as we become more like Jesus.

Join me as I read today's scripture reading. It's from the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 5,

verses 28 through 33. The Lord heard you when you spoke to me, and the Lord said to me,

I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good. Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my

commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever. Go, tell them to

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