10 Commandments

February 3 – Today’s Readings – Exodus 19-21 and Psalms 33

Allow me to make some generalizations and do a bit of paraphrasing about the Ten Commandments found in Chapter Twenty. First of all, these commands can be summed up as found in Luke 10:27 when Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.”

The first four commandments are all about loving God – the “Upward” ones.

1. You will have me and I will have you – to the exclusion of others.

2. Put me first in your life as I have put you first in my life.

3. You bear my Name and when people see you, they will see Me.

4. You need to make sure you have enough time with Me each week (each day) to keep our relationship sweet and healthy.

The next six commandments are all about love for others: – the “Outward” ones.

5. In as much as you are able, treat people with respect and honour. Pay special attention to parents and others that God wants us to honour.

6. Littoral murder or “attitude” murder with words and actions is never an option in our relationships.

7. Littoral adultery, flirtation, or even adultery with the eyes can ruin a marriage and/or ruin your life. It can also devastate those around you, like your spouse or your children.

8. Small-time theft or bad money management is still classified as stealing.

9. Always seek to be kind in your words about others. If they were present, they should enjoy hearing what you are saying. Limit your correction or confrontation of other people to a private setting.

10. Be thankful for what you have and work hard to provide so that you can be like your Father in heaven – a giver.

Do you see how simple this is? Yet it is impossible to live this way without the grace of God working through you. The good news is that God has a bottomless well of grace to give away. The only requirement is a willing, humble, servant attitude. James 4:6 reads, “That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Keeping the Ten Commandments? It’s simple if you have the Holy Spirit living in you, speaking to you, guiding you and correcting you. Don’t forget, you also have to be willing to repent often!

Questions:

1. Which of the 10 Commandments do you find the most challenging?

2. Why were the 10 Commandments impossible for the Israelites to keep?

3. What do the first 4 Commandments remind you of? Hint – “I Now Pronounce You —.