Year of the Bible: Part Three of Twelve Sample

Ten Commands.

Remember that God's first intention was to set his people free from captivity, after which He gave the law to teach them how to walk with Him and set them apart from all the nations of the Earth.

Moses wrote Genesis to remind God's people of their roots and history with God. As you may remember, the first half of Exodus chronicles the people's escape and deliverance from their captors in Egypt. The book's second half is legislation describing the expected response to God's grace [favor] toward the people. Popular belief says the law was a means by which the Israelites would be "saved." The law is not their means of salvation but rather the practical parts of their agreement and how they will walk with God.

David Pawson puts it like this; the people were liberated from slavery, not to do their own thing but to serve God and delight in their relationship with Him. God invited His people to start a new kind of relationship with Him, not one of fear or appeasement, but one of love.

What then is the purpose of the ten commandments now? Are Christians supposed to follow these laws to draw near to God, or not? Well, the answer to that depends on whether or not you believe and trust the work of Jesus. For the Israelites, keeping the law was meant to be an act of faith in the One who gave the law. It is the same today; belief in Christ is the doorway through which we enter into a relationship with God, and it is and always will be through faith alone.

In Romans, Pauls writes that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Today, if you are in Christ, your obedience is a response of trust toward God, who has already shown you his favor in Jesus. Remember, God desires what is best for you, which means the boundaries He places around your life are for your benefit and enable you to draw near to Him without the distractions of guilt, fear, and shame. What a gift we have received in Jesus!

Question: In your relationship with God, what is your natural stance, rule-keeping, or responding to His love?

Prayer Focus: God has gone out of His way for you, and He always will. Ask God for a fresh revelation of His good-natured heart toward you, your family, and your friends. Ask Him to teach you how to be more deeply motived by the love of God and less by fear of punishment for falling short [which we all do, every day].