October 15 | Exodus 20:1-21

by Elaine Pierce

The Ten Commandments. They used to be prominently featured in America's courtrooms and schools. The 1956 movie, The Ten Commandments, starring Charlton Heston (who plays both Moses and God) is a classic. Today? We don't talk about the Ten Commandments much. In fact, some have jokingly said that today we would prefer that Moses give us ten suggestions rather than ten commandments.

To be fair, probably no generation has welcomed being told what to do and how to do it. Ask any parent in the throes of raising a toddler how much their child enjoys discipline, even when it is for their own good, their own safety, their own well being. God's commandments are based on his gracious salvation to rescue his people and his expectation that his people will now live in obedience to his instruction. (See page 32 of your "Gospel of Exodus" Sermon Journal for an excellent summary of the purpose of the Ten Commandments.)

We know that the Israelites did not keep these commandments. Keep reading Exodus and it won't take long to read about Aaron and the golden calf. Our modern sensibilities are offended: how could they be so arrogant, so foolish, so ungodly? Don't we do the same thing? We promise to keep God's law, and we quickly break it. We may not be so crass as to create a golden calf, but we turn our backs on God when it's convenient for us to ignore him.

Strictly following the Ten Commandments won't guarantee your salvation we all know that. But God has given us a blueprint for how to worship him and for how to live. As he reminded the Jewish people, so he reminds us, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, our of the land of slavery."

To God be the glory, great things he has done! So loved he the world that he gave us his son.....Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear his voice. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice. Thank you, Lord, for what you have done in my life and in the lives of the saints who go before me. Help me for today to live a life worthy of you. l Amen.