Sunday Words of Encouragement November 20, 2016

Several weeks ago our Sunday School teacher shared from a study by Pastor Andy Stanley titled The Sinai Code. He explained that God gave His people the ten commandments not so they could earn acceptance, but as evidence that a relationship already existed and as confirmation of their acceptance. The ‘rules’ are to show man how to live every day in relationship. These were instructions to those who were already in the family: His people. How to live-- not for His sake-- but for theirs (ours).

The first four of the ten commandments are relationship to God. ‘You shall have no other God’s but me’. Recognize only the one, your God, and seek your God for all your needs. Next: make no idols; do not take His name in vain; honor the day of rest so you can remember ‘who provides for you’.
All the components center around God.

All people are valuable in His image. Everyone you come into contact is valuable. Treat them right. This was/is totally different from a caste society. Without God, there is only law set by rulers over the people. There was not to be a king because with a king there is oppression and a class system.
There was no country that was without a king leader until 1776. The United States established a government with no king. It was established as a nation of law. The problem is that when man makes laws, man feels empowered to break it. Even those in power feel they can break rules. When the law is God given, then we can choose to be law keepers.

The value of the ten commandments is not so much the rules but the acknowledgment of law giver, the Almighty. We have a conscious in our nation that makes us object to oppression in other nations too.

The fifth commandment is the first that comes with a promise. Honor your father and mother so you may live long. Once man grows and becomes successful they would tend to grasp at new values and abandon old. As the family goes, so goes the nation.  The final five address how to behave toward others. Thou shall not murder, commit adultery, lie, steal or covet. In other words: Honor everyone around you. We are accountable to God for what you do, accountable for what you think. God isn’t trying to make you (us) good. He is trying to keep you (us) free!

God wanted a sin free nation. Exodus 20:20 states that ‘the fear of God is to keep you from sinning’. This was all new to the nation of Israel. We see examples in our generation of the failure to keep God in the center of our lives.

The study series is available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgFW4BwhyaQ.

This song came to mind as a fitting song to go with this message! You are God Alone!

Verses for Today:
Exodus 20: 1-3 (NIV)
And God spoke all these words:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

Again, Lord Father God, I thank you for adopting me into Your family. Help me to always keep You first and at the center of my life.