The Fast Track to Blessings
I’m still on track in reading the Bible through in one year and I couldn’t go through the book of Exodus without reading about the commandments that God gave to Moses to pass on to the Israelites. What was God thinking? Ten Commandments to live by? Weren’t they just suggestions? After all, we have just one life to live and shouldn’t we live it with no restrictions?
Why do we command OUR children: “Look both ways before you cross the street”; “DO NOT touch that burner on the stove”. Are those commandments or really words of wisdom that show what great love we have for our children to keep them from harm?
Think about how much more does our Heavenly Father love us and and want to spare us of the pain and harm we go through because we didn’t heed HIS Commandments. He loves us so much that He wants us be blessed beyond measure. He gave us the fast track to blessings as we obey His commands:
- You shall have no other gods before Me.
- You shall not make idols.
- You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
- Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
- Honor your father and your mother.
- You shall not murder.
- You shall not commit adultery.
- You shall not steal.
- You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
- You shall not covet.
God gave us the Commandments to protect us from harm – mentally, physically, and spiritually. When we heed and obey those Commandments – our pay-off is protection, peace, joy, closeness to God, hearing His voice and having daily sweet communion with Him. God went on to say in Deuteronomy 5:29: “Oh that they had such a mind as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever.” God is a blessing-giver and wants life to go well for us. THAT is the why for His Commandments.
And if that weren’t enough, God gave us His Son Who took the Ten Commandments to a whole new level. “Do not murder” wasn’t enough because Jesus said, “Anyone who is even ANGRY with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.” (Matthew 5:22). Apparently, “Do not commit adultery” wasn’t enough because Jesus said, “I tell you that anyone who LOOKS at a woman lustfully, has already committed adultery.” (Matthew 5:27-28) And, I might add, He even said “If your eyes cause you to stumble, gouge it out.” (Matthew 5:27) YIKES!!
Jesus showed us how to keep the Commandments by wrapping them all up in one concise GREAT COMMANDMENT: “You shall love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:30-31). He taught that every “Thou shalt” in the Ten Commandments is a “no brainer” when we sum it all up in love of God, love of self, and love of neighbor.
God created us in His image. He makes the impossible, possible. He makes can’t, can. He wants us to live and experience an abundant life of blessings. He wants us free from heartache and pain. If we want to protect and bless our children, how much more does our Heavenly Father want to bless us? If He didn’t think it were possible, He would have never set such high standards for us. God didn’t set the bar high so that we would fail. He did it to show how high He can take us and how much He wants to bless us!