6-16-2015

Good Morning All!!

           Numbers 15:40; “So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God.”

        “No fun!”  That is what most critics of Christians think of; they think that Christians are stuck in the mud, joyless, dictatorial people.  They think we spend too much time worrying about how others act or behave.  They call us judgmental.  In some ways they are right, we often can be very focused on the actions.  The problem is that is all anyone focuses on; it is the actions.  When we do that, we often miss the whole point of the Law.

     To many, keeping the commandments is like driving the speed limit.  For some it is a matter of principle.  For some, they see the speed limit as a guideline that can be bent or altered by personal preference, after all, who knows your driving skills better than you do, right?  Some see it as a challenge and an opportunity to rebel against authority.  After all, speeding is a harmless and victimless event; nobody really gets hurt.  The only thing that gains out of stopping someone for speeding is the local governments so when you speed no one gets hurt.  Many view the Ten Commandments this way. No one gets hurt if I don’t follow them.  I can adapt them to fit my situation.  They only exist in order to subjugate one group of people by another.  Many view the commandments this way and they are wrong.

     The Ten Commandments are not about appeasing or pleasing God; the Ten Commandments are about healthy relationships.  The first three show us a healthy relationship between man and God. The next seven show a healthy relationship between people.  The first three speak of honoring God for his greatness and provision.  They speak of our being able to come to him for our needs and fears; they speak of coming to him with our thanks and praise.  The next seven speak of respect for our fellow man.  They speak of coming to aid and support of each other.  Selfishness breaks these commandments and selfishness breaks relationships.  This is why God hates sin; it breaks relationships and harms everyone involved.  When we break the commandments, we separate our self from God rather than being set apart as God’s holy people.  We stop being God’s agents of love.

    The reason that God gave us the Ten Commandments was to show us how to develop and to live in healthy and life sustaining relationships.  If you live without respect, or compassion, or love for your fellow man you have no qualms about hurting him.  Yet when we have love and when we live love, we serve God and live the kind of life that God designed for us to live.  Keeping God’s Law is about living in peaceful, godly contentment.

Father in heaven, your mercies are new to us each day.  Grant us the understanding that your laws are perfect and give to us the guidance and the direction for living our lives as you have given to us.  Help us to seek after your will.  Lead us by your Holy Spirit that we may be always in your kingdom, serving only you.  In the precious name of Jesus our risen Savior we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret