The Way

The Ten Commandments – A Standard for Love and Freedom

In today’s world, everyone seems to have a different definition of what is right and wrong. However, God has given us the Ten Commandments to show us the way to love and freedom.

With Moses as their leader, the children of Israel were delivered from slavery in Egypt. God called them to an assembly at Mount Sinai. Here, He gave to them the keys to freedom from all forms of bondage through keeping His law⁠—the Ten Commandments.Commandment #1 “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3)God desires us to acknowledge Him as our Creator and to give Him the rightful place He deserves in our life⁠—first place. Commandment #2 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. (Exodus 20:4-6)God desires us to worship Him “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24) rather than through man-made idols that have no value. God is infinite and there is no proper replica we can make of Him.Commandment #3 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)God asks us to respect His name as a sign of our loyalty to Him. This commandment not only prohibits false oaths and common swearing, but it forbids us to use the name of God in a light or careless manner.Commandment #4 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. (Exodus 20:8-11)Our Creator loved us so much and He knew we would need and enjoy weekly rejuvenation. This 24-hour period is a time of worship with Jesus to celebrate His blessings and give thanks. It is an opportunity to bond with our families while making God the center of it all.Commandment #5 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God has given you.” (Exodus 20:12)God asks us to respect our parents and treat them with kindness and love. Even if our parents have abused or hurt us in any way, we are to forgive them. God promises a long life to us when we seek to honor our parents.Commandment #6 “You shall not murder. (Exodus 20:13)God desires our peace. He asks us to refrain from all acts of injustice that tend to shorten life such as hatred, revenge and wishing harm to others.Commandment #7 “You shall not commit adultery. (Exodus 20:14)God’s view of marriage is a bond of trust and purity. It is the ultimate experience of love on this earth. When this bond is broken through adultery, it shatters the hearts of entire families. God warns us how to preserve our homes and achieve happiness and peace within.Commandment #8 “You shall not steal.” (Exodus 20:15) God is referring to many aspects of stealing. First, we don’t take something that doesn’t belong to us. But even beyond that, we are not to take advantage of someone who is weaker or less fortunate or participate in anything that is considered fraud. Commandment #9 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16) God wants us to speak the truth. When we lie, we create chaos for ourselves. Gossiping, telling white lies or partial truths, selective omissions and exaggerations violate the ninth commandment. Commandment #10 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Exodus 20:17) God asks us to be happy with what we have and remain free from selfish desires, which can start a domino effect of other sins. Your worth is found in God because you are a child of the King of the Universe. He will provide all that you need (Philippians 4:19).God’s law is like a wall of protection, prohibiting us from falling into one of the many landmines of sin. It is God’s desire for men and women to be happy and live in peace. Obeying God’s rules will save us from learning things the hard way, but by themselves they won’t give us a personal experience with God. In fact, following a list of rules without an actual experience with God can be a miserable experience. The reason we obey is not because we are trying to earn God’s favor. It’s the natural response of our love for Him.As you have read this message today, are you seeing that God has a holy law? Is it your desire, right now, to say, “Lord, I am a sinner in desperate need of a Savior and I want to be obedient to your law through the power of your Holy Spirit?” Let’s pray together: Heavenly Father, we have learned what Your way is for our lives, and if we follow your law we can live life to the fullest, both now and for eternity. Thank you for putting this hedge of protection around us. Please empower us to walk in Your path.