The Ten Commandments: An Expression of God's LoveSample

Be Aware of the Presence of God

Why did God give us the Ten Commandments? It was not for our salvation, as in “Keep these commandments in order to be saved.” That would be futile, for no one would be saved. Thankfully, salvation has always been by the grace of God. It has always been God’s work for us, not our work for God.

So, why did God give us the Ten Commandments? He did so for three reasons.

First, the Ten Commandments (and all 613 commandments in the Mosaic Law) reveal the nature and character of God. Implicitly, by the nature of these commandments, we see that God is holy, good, wise, just, and sovereign. The Ten Commandments reveal God’s character.

Second, the Ten Commandments reveal to us how to live our lives well. These commandments are God’s gift to us, given for our good, to guide and protect us. 

Third, the Ten Commandments reveal our sin. They show that we fall short of God’s perfection, that we could never be good enough to please a holy God and save ourselves, and that we need Him as Savior. The law leads us to Christ.

The third commandment concerns the name of God. Do not misuse God’s name. Do not profane God’s name. Do not take God’s name in vain. This commandment carries several implications. First of all, don’t use God’s name as profanity. Don’t take God’s holy name and use it to give voice to your unholy feelings. Honor God’s name, because to honor God’s name is to honor God.

There’s a second part to the commandment: Don’t swear falsely in God’s name. Don’t use God’s name in an oath to make a false statement. 

Then there is a third part: Do not treat God as if he is unreal, as if He did not exist or were not present with you. Never live your life as if God didn’t exist, for God does exist. He is right here with you. 

Live your life in the awareness of the presence of God. See how this changes how we live. God is real. God is here. Practice the presence of God.