God’s commandments are a blessing because the Lord protects us and guides us as we obey them. I grew up on a farm, and when I was very young, we were never to leave the house yard. One day I ventured out of the yard and soon found myself stuck in the mud so deep I could not free myself. As I cried, my father heard me and pulled me out of the muck. Later my mother had to wash me off outside and clean me up.
I endangered myself and created extra work for my parents by not following directions. I learned the hard way that my parent’s rules were for my good. When you are a child, you don’t grasp that your parents give you directions to protect you, just as the Lord does.
God Gives Commandments
The Lord gathered the nation of Israel around the base of Mount Sinai, and Then He gave the people all these instructions, [1]which were the ten commandments. Before Moses received the commandments on stone tablets, the Lord spoke the commandments verbally from heaven to the people of Israel as they gathered around Mt. Sinai.
The Lord guided the Israelites with the ten commandments in God’s mercy and grace. They would help them in every aspect of life, from their relationship with God to interacting with others. The Lord’s first commandment was the foundation for all other commandments; Exodus 20:3You must not have any other god but me.” [2] God wanted and still desires a personal relationship with each person, which begins with no other gods or idols in our lives.
The Ten Commandments are Still for Today
Some people say that God has changed, but that is not true. Malachi 3:6 “I am the Lord, and I do not change.[3]The church must never change God’s word to meet our culture or circumstances. Instead, as believers, we need to be transformed by God’s word to be a witness to the world. Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. [4]
The Apostle Paul tells us this happens by renewing our minds. Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. [5] We will understand His will as we let the Lord renew our minds. As people, we can never obey the Lord perfectly, which is why Jesus came into this world. In addition, the Lord gave us the Holy Spirit to teach us to follow Him.
To learn how God’s commandments are a blessing, listen here:
[1-5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.