Day 3: The Ten Commandments

Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments. Matthew 22:36-40

I love "Today's Treasure." It's such a great verse, and it alludes to the Ten Commandments. As we saw pointed out in today's study, the Ten Commandments can be summed up in 4 commandments concerning our relationship with God, and 6 commandments concerning our relationships with others. It's hard, at least for me, to not look at the Ten Commandments and think they're just a set of rules. However, there is so much more going on here! God is always looking out for our best interest, it's just that we often don't interpret it that way. For instance, when we say "no" to our kids, they don't always interpret it as being what is best for them! They may think we're just being mean or that we don't ever want them to have any fun! However, we all know better than that. We tell them "no" they can't run out into the street because there are cars that may not see them! And on and on the list could go. Even now, as a parent, though my eyes are open wider than ever before, I still have a hard time seeing this sometimes. Does anyone else??

Back to "Today's Treasure," how do you think the law and prophets could hang on the two commands Jesus mentioned in Matthew 22? Here's my answer: Because in doing these two things, everything works out and falls into place--our relationship with God and with others! This is the way of Jesus which all the law and prophets pointed to! If you look back at every law or at any of the prophets, you will find that in every instance it is either about loving God or loving people. That pretty much sums it up. It's hard to think it boils down that simply, huh? But we all know, though it might seem simple, it certainly isn't always easy!

I also love the idea that Jesus came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it! What an amazing thing! We are completely and utterly incapable of not breaking the law, if you will. Our very nature is sinful. Praise God that He sent Jesus to fulfill the law so that we could be free of it! It's not that the law is done away with, but we no longer are condemned by it when we accept Christ and His sacrifice! We are no longer judged by the law, Christ has set us FREE!!! Now, that is freedom! But with that comes some great responsibility! There are many differing opinions as to how far we can take this freedom in Christ. We must be careful and realize that our deeds do still matter, obedience is still essential in our walk with the Lord. The Ten Commandments are still appropriate today so that we can live good, long lives and our children can do so as well. So, let's be concerned that the Ten Commandments are written on our hearts and the hearts of the generations to come!

Are you obeying all of the Ten Commandments or just the ones that you find convenient? Ask God to reveal areas of your life where you have strayed from His laws.