Advent(Dec. 10): Ten Love Rules
Moses summoned all Israel and said:
Hear, O Israel, the decrees and lawsI declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them.
"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
"You shall have no other gods before me.
"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
"Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you.
"Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
"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
anything that belongs to your neighbor."
The LORD heard you when you spoke to me and the LORD said.
Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!
Deuteronomy 5
"The ten commandments are more than God saying, "Here are My rules of law for you"; they are God saying, "Here is my real love for you."
All through the commandments, God etches into the stone, like a whisper: "I am the Lord, your God...you are Mine."
So that by giving His beautiful people this great gift - two tablets of stone He wrote with His very own finger, -
He gives these commandments as a call to trust Him, love Him, spend time with Him.
When we are tempted to trust the world -
the world, who tells us to covet, to hate, to kill, to lie, to separate from having a love relationship with God - we are reminded of this gift of love that will keep us close to Him, to enjoy His presence, His protection, His peace...
“Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.” (2 Corinthians 3:7)
Is the law bad? No. Without the Law we would not see our need for Christ.
BUT…Paul says he is a minister of a new covenant, not of the letter (law) but of the spirit.
If we are in Christ..The law is now written on our hearts! His love is carved into our hearts!
Where we once stood condemned by the law, we now have the power, through the work of the spirit in us to obey the law. We can love the law because in Christ, it no longer condemns us. (source)
The commandments also show us how to love God and Others:
This is why the apostle John tells us that “whoever keeps His
word, truly the love of God is perfected in him” and “By this we know that we
love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments” (1 John 2:5; 1 John 5:2).
The Ten Commandments truly sum
up God’s law of love.
Below is a link to a video of a wonderful explanation of how believers are to view the "Ten Love Rules"...
Come back tomorrow, as I share Day 11 of the Advent Calender...in the book, "Unwrapping the Greatest Gift".(All quotes listed are from the book, unless indicated.)
I will be sharing each story in this beautiful book, as well as some of the breathtaking pictures. Won't you join me? Stop by each day to see the stories shared. If you would prefer I email you each days post, please leave your email in the comments section or send me an email at apop12341@hotmail.com
and let me know. I will make sure each post is sent to you.
and let me know. I will make sure each post is sent to you.
To view the whole series on one page, go HERE
You may find me linking up at any of the blog parties listed on the left sidebar.(or go to my blog party page link, below)
Comments
Post a Comment
I would love to hear from you! Feel free to leave me a comment.