Anytime the 10 Commandments is mentioned I think of Charlton Heston. The movie isn't all that accurate but really leaves an impression on the viewer. Yesterday I talked about how Jesus took the 10 Commandments and summarized them into two commandments. Today I would like to suggest something radically contrary to common thinking. That's what we are encouraged to do in life. We are to be radical people doing radical things for God. Take a walk on the dangerous side and really leave Jesus everywhere you go. Sounds simple and exciting. Well, it is! Though we might get a little bit of help from the Sermon on the Mount. Specifically the Beatitudes. In the Beatitudes we can count them to be 9 so we need to incorporate the verse after the last Beatitudes to make 10. Now, if you can, read them backwards from 10 to 1. When we do so, we find the 10 Commandments reversed. The first 6 are all about our relationships with man and the final 4 are all about our relationship with God.
Thinking outside the box is wonderful and can be enlightening to they who seek more. To those who live their lives in that state of positive discontent outside of the box is where it's best to live. As I recall my childhood, I remember at certain ages that all it took for me to be defiant was someone to tell me "no." Sometimes today I even feel the same way. The Holy Spirit is sent into our lives as believers to help steer this ship we call our life. The Holy Spirit wants us to always look to Jesus and to follow his footsteps wherever they lead. In order to do this we must abandon ourselves. In order to be abandoned by undue forces, we should understand that for the Christian we no longer are our own but we belong to God who wants to bless beyond measure. In order to do this God, in the Old
Testament put the law into effect with the 10 Commandments right out there in all their simplicity. Having the law is like telling that young Steve "no." If I don't like the law, what is the likelihood that I will obey the law? Not real good.
So, Jesus came and changed my life, set me free from the law and because he loves me so much I want to have the best relationship with Him in all ways. Not out of compulsion but out of compassion we direct our paths for His will to be done and not ours. IF we do this, we are so busy taking care of the first 6 Beatitudes that our needs are met without any effort or request on our part. The same goes for the last 4 Beatitudes. If we are surrendered to God then we will seek to do his will amongst those around us. Right back to the first 6 Beatitudes. Jesus came so that mankind could be blessed by God. When we act out of grateful and fulfilled hearts we cannot help but make change in our world. Jesus DID the Gospel. We are compelled to do the Gospel as well. And to do it out of love first given to us by Him.
Should we take the time to let the Holy Spirit show us what God wants to have happen in our lives and the lives of those around us, the world will change. Not because of what we do but what God does through us.
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