We’re going to start a new series here on the chaplain blog and radio spots.
I believe the 10 Commandments are very important. They are talked about all through the Bible. However, they have often been more of a curse than a blessing. Which is weird, when you think of how David talked about them:
Psalm 119:97 – Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.Psalm 119:163 – I hate and abhor falsehood but I love your law.Psalm 119:165 – Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
How is it that David can say – I love the commandments? I mean, I hate rules! I don’t want someone telling me what to do!
One of missing component for most of us in thinking of the 10 Commandments is that Christians have traditionally IGNORED the first part of the 10 Commandments – it’s verse 2 of Exodus 20, “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.”
The first part of this is, “I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD!”
Now, if I were God, I would say, “I am the LORD, and you are MINE!” This is my basic attitude toward a lot of stuff in my life. I have MY bike – it’s there to serve me; it’s there for me to ride on. I have MY computer which I take everywhere and beat to death. I have MY IPOD that I use all the time and is scratched. That’s what I might expect from God.
In fact, that’s kinda the way many people – including myself – have at times felt about the law. It’s God USING us. And yes, it’s for our good, and it’s wonderful, but in the end, it’s God telling me what to do – and I don’t always like that.
So, when I hear, I am the Lord YOUR God – that’s huge! That’s God putting Himself into relationship, accountability, and connection with ME! Not that I am equal, but He is putting Himself into a give and take relationship with ME!
This is a lot more like my relationship with my wife. More than 6 years ago I stood before her and committed to her that I was hers – end of story. I am hers – and she is mine. That’s amazingly powerful to me! It’s similar to the way – at the beginning of the 10 Commandments God says, “I am YOURS!!!!!!”
Let’s journey in these commandments together – I’d love to hear your thoughts – even your frustrations or misunderstandings about them! Post your comments here! If you’d like to hear a sermon I did on this, check this out:
Listen Online — July 26, 2008
Just wanted to let you know I read your blog!! I’ll post more comments later!
When I heard this on the radio the other day, it was just the reminder I needed. I sometimes forget God is on my side, that He is the one who initiated this relationship, and He first gave Himself to me.
Great Job-I love how you are tying all this together for me. You speak to my heart, thanks
I heard a bit on the 3rd commandment tonight and want to say thank you for keeping those in front of us. I recently reviewed then and wrote this in response to Deut 5; I hope it encourages you. Janet
You are the Lord who bought me a calvary.
You are my only hope,
the only one trustworthy.
I will worship you so my children will not be lost
Your name is holy
I will use it well, I will honor it as it is worthy of guarding.
I will rest each week and recall what you have done in my life.
I will treat my parents gently as an authority in my life.
I will love people purely
I will keep my mind and body pure.
I will be satisfied with what you have given me.
i am so glad i am saved and now i live according to Christ. when Christ died on the cross the commandments were set aside and now we live for Him. I am so glad that the blood of Jesus saves us and not the 10 commandments cause if were then there would be less people to worship once the Lord comes down and takes us home.
I completely agree with you! I am so glad that I am saved by Christ and Christ only.
I’m also excited that Christ does more than save me for eternity – He transforms me! Romans 3:31 says that faith in Christ is the only way to follow the law! That’s because these promises are so amazing that we can’t make them happen – He transforms us – not us transforming us – by His power! In fact Romans 8 takes it another step by declaring that it is through Him that we fulfill the requirements of the law.
WE ARE NOT SAVED BY KEEPING THE LAW! We are saved by God – and He saves us from death and sin! I can no more keep the law than I can save myself. But, praise God that He works in in ME!
Do you belive that when Christ died on the cross the law (Ten commandments) were done away with to the extent that we no longer need the commandments for Christ was the sacrafice for us I believe that the commandments are a sign for the Jews. What are your thougths as a Chaplin.