God gave us the Ten Commandments to teach us what it looks like to love God above all and to love our neighbors. God begins to teach us to love our neighbors with the command, “Honor your father and your mother.” Love begins at home. As we dig into the commandment, we see God’s heart that this would not be confined to the parent-child relationship, but that in all things we grow in Leading and Following Well. May God continue to Order Our Steps and Shape Our Hearts by his word.
The fourth commandment concerning the Sabbath is likely the most contested of the ten when it comes to interpretation and practice. Is Sunday the new Sabbath? What does it mean to honor it? As we listen to the Spirit speak through the Bible, we don't get direct answers to all our questions. We do, however, hear a gracious and serious command from God to receive and Honor the Gift of Rest. May God Order Our Steps and Shape Our Hearts according to his word.
The third commandment tells us not to misuse the name of the Lord. Right away that eliminates cursing and unnecessary oaths from our vocabulary. Looking deeper we see the name of the Lord is not merely a word or set of words; God’s name reveals his status and glory. This commandment goes beyond merely shaping our vocabulary to shaping our hearts so that we glorify God in all our words and works. May God Order Our Steps and Shape Our Hearts by his word so we grow in Guarding God’s Reputation.
In the second commandment God prohibits making any image of God or worshiping any images, which may seem like an easy task. As we look closer, we realize the scope of the command encompasses all our worship. In both action and heart, we must worship God according to how he has instructed us in the Bible. May God Order Our Steps and Shape Our Hearts to make him the center of our worship as we seek to “worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23)
The Ten Commandments begin with the most important command of all. God says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” We make other gods when we look for strength, meaning and fulfilment outside of God and then, when we find it, focus our energy, praise and thanks there. Our true identity, purpose, freedom and salvation are only found in the one true God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Let us actively choose to worship only God, and may God Order Our Steps and Shape Our Hearts according to his word.