Accepting God's Rules for Living

I hope that you had a great Fourth of July celebration...the desire for ribs and potato salad still haunt me...the weekend is not over yet...I may still have a chance for a rib plate...pray for me...

This week's Sunday school lesson begins the second unit of the quarter...Called to be God's People...Lesson 5...Accepting God's Rules for Living...Deuteronomy 5:1-9a, 11-13, 16-21...

Deuteronomy 5:1 (KJV)
And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgements which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.
The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.
The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.
The Lord talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire,
(I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to shew you the word of the Lord: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying
I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
Thou shalt have none other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:
9a Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them.

11 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee.
Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work.

16 Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Thou shalt not kill
Neither shalt thou commit adultery.
Neither shalt thou steal.
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Neither shalt thou desire they neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's

Have you ever heard the expression, "Rules were meant to be broken"...I don't know who gets credit for being the first person to ever utter that statement...I wish I could talk with them...and ask them...What exactly did you mean by rules were meant to be broken?

Does it mean that we should expect to struggle with obedience? That is what it sounds like...accepting God's rules for Living...means that God has guidelines that we need to live by...choosing our own way causes us to reject God's rules and die in disobedience...

God has called us to be his people...He has invited us into relationship with Him...and the Ten Commandments were the rules God intends for us to live by...verses 1-9a and 11-13 deal with our relationship with God...and verses 19-21 deals with our relationship with mankind...If we plan to lead an abundant life...full of God's blessings...we need to know Him...and keep His commandments...

John 14:15 says...If you love me, keep my commandments...

Let's us pray...Lord God you are so holy...forgive us of our sins known and unknown...allow nothing to hinder us from hearing your voice...there is so much for us to be thankful for...and we just want to start by thanking you for your Word...that does not return to you void...but accomplishes what it was set forth to do...so help us Lord to obey your Word...to live a life that is pleasing in your sight...help us to come into relationship with you...help us to love our fellow man...to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ...we love you Lord...and we need you...and it is in Jesus' name we pray...Amen...