Scripture tells us “God is love.” That is who and what He is. Jesus was the very embodiment of that love, which reached out to us in our hopelessness and gave us the help we needed. The one who is love not only loved us, but told us to love each other as He has loved us. To help us understand what He meant, He gave us a list telling us how to love one another. While you may not always think of it that way, the Ten Commandments are God’s instructions on how to love.
- You shall have no other gods before me.
- You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God
- Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
- Honor your father and your mother
- You shall not murder.
- You shall not commit adultery.
- You shall not steal.
- You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
- You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.
- You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
God in effect says, “You want to love as I love? Keep these commandments.” But commandments aren’t too popular in our “anything goes” world. Few people, including many in the church, can list the Ten Commandments when asked to do so. How can you keep them if you don’t know what they are? Don’t you owe it to yourself and to God to at least know what they are?
Another problem is the image the word “commandment” brings to mind. Very seldom do people associate “commandment” with love. People hear “commandment” and think, “I don’t want to be burdened with rules and regulations.” But God was serious about this. If you want to love like God loves, these commandments tell you how to do it. In these commandments you get a glimpse of our God who is love. You get and insight into who He is and what He desires of you, His children. He gives you absolute statements about how He wants you to live, a code of morality. But it is not just regulations for the sake of making rules. These commandments tell you how to get the most out of life, how to live life to its fullest, how to live a happy and productive and fulfilled life. These commandments tell you how to love.
Many people have the idea that the commandments keep you from enjoying yourself and having fun. Not only is that ludicrous, but it is the oldest lie in the world. That is what Satan proposed to Eve: “Did God really say…” implying that she was missing out on something wonderful. But just as Eve shattered the blissful loving relationship that existed between God and man by her disobedience, so you and I wander outside of God’s love when we go against His commandments. Your sins do not bring you the happiness and joy and fulfillment that you think they will. An honest examination of your life will tell you that your sins are what bring hurt and heartache and disappointment.
Happiness and joy and peace come from loving God and loving one another as He instructs you in His Commandments. We do this knowing that Jesus has already paid the price for our sins to obtain our forgiveness and salvation. We love because He loved us.
More thoughts on this tomorrow.
