This month and next month, we will discuss the Ten Commandments, not the Ten Suggestions. The Ten Commandments are found in the book of Exodus 20: 1-17.
When I was growing up, I thought the Ten Commandments would restrain me and keep me from achieving the good life. Later in life, I realized that God gave us the Ten Commandments for our benefit so we could actually live the good life. In fact, God’s Word tells us that He intends to give us life to the fullest (John 10:10) and true freedom (John 8:32). But remember, God’s Word also tells us that if we love Him, we will keep His Commandments (John 14:15).
Commandments one through four deal with our relationship with God. He knows that before we can be right with others, we need to be right with Him. And then Commandments five through ten deal with our relationship with each other.
This month, we will look at Commandments one through four. And next month, we will look at Commandments five through ten.
Commandments One through Four:
1. You shall have no other Gods before me.
This Commandment tells us who to worship. Who or what do we worship? What role does God play in our daily life? Is God first in our life? Is God the source of our security, contentment, and joy?
2. You shall not make for yourself a graven image…You shall not bow down to them or serve them…
Who or what do we worship? It is ok to have things like a cross or a crucifix to remind us of Jesus as long as we do not worship the cross or crucifix as a God.
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain; for the Lord will not hold a person guiltless who takes his name in vain.
Vain means insincere or frivolous. For example, God’s last name is not “Dammit.”
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Do we take at least one day a week to rest and thank God for all that He has done for us and our family?