A New Commandment

Jesus was asked what was the most important of the commandments. He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and Love your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10:27).” He said that this was the heart of the commandments; the key to obeying God. The Apostle Paul said that when we practice love we need not worry about commandment breaking (Romans 13:8-9).

This teaching is so important that Jesus chose to speak on it during his last hours of freedom. He told the Apostles, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)

Although Jesus said that love would be the way His followers would distinguish themselves, the opposite is often true. We hear about church and denominational splits, feuding among members within a congregation, pastors badmouthing other ministries, sexual abuse and more. Some church leaders speak such hateful words that they make a mockery of our faith and our Lord.

Jesus modeled how we should love. His was a humble love that washed the apostles feet. It was a compassionate love that touched lepers, healed the sick and raised the dead. It was a love that reached out to outcasts like Zacchaeus and the Samaritan woman. It was a sacrificial love that went to the cross so we might be freed from the shame and bondage of our sin.

The Bible teaches us that we are to love our brother, our neighbor and,even, our enemies.

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another,
God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

1 John 4:12

The 10 Commandments Still Matter

In the Gospels we read about a rich young man who asks Jesus how he can achieve eternal life. Jesus advises him to obey the commandments. He claims that this is his practice but apparently still feels lost. Jesus tells him to give up everything and follow Him. This is too much for the young man and he sadly walks away from Jesus.

It seems that many want to figure out what is the least they can do to gain salvation. Jesus tells us there are no short cuts. In fact the way to salvation is narrow, while the way to destruction is wide (and, perhaps, paved with good intentions).

The 10 commandments matter not because they are a set of rules to follow but because they represent principles that reveal the heart of God. We cannot keep them perfectly. The Apostle Paul said that they show the depth of our sin. The Pharisees had written many rules as a hedge around God's law so there would no chance of unintentionally sinning but sin they did. The rich young man who approached Jesus certainly felt there was more to spirituality than a set of rules.

The 10 commandments matter because they deal with the two important issues all humans must face, our relationship with God and our relationship with each other.

The 10 commandments matter because they represent God’s design to make life on earth the best it can possibly be. If they are followed correctly, they create a strong, healthy foundation for both society and individuals. If they are ignored there is chaos and corruption. If they are followed incorrectly there is oppression and dysfunction.

This Sunday I will start a series that reveals the deep spiritual principles behind each commandment and how they can lead you to a happier, healthier and more prosperous life in all your endeavors.