God’s Rules Protect You
Many people think that God arbitrarily made up a lot of rules to quell human rebellion and to make us obedient robots. This sermon will show you that God made rules to protect and guide us into having a happy, fulfilling life. God’s Word has many do’s and don’ts. I will discuss a few and also go over the reasoning behind the 10 Commandments.
God tells us to love, forgive, serve, use our gifts for others, put others above ourselves (selflessness), and act as One Body on earth representing Him. He tells us not to be judgmental, selfish, sinful, unforgiving, self-serving, hard-hearted, and to sidestep immoral behavior. He warns us to avoid making “things or people” our idols, replacing our time with Him in useless endeavors. For these things are folly and are the mark of fools.
God has given us these directions so that our life will go well and keep us on a heavenly path toward eternal life. He commands us to act in ways that fill our hearts with love that overflows onto those around us. His decrees make us the type of person others want to be, full of peace and joy despite circumstances or people who try to steal our joy. (our light)
God created us with a giving heart, so if we neglect that extremely important part of humanity, then we become bitter, unhappy, suspicious, and greedy and we begin to think of ourselves as being the most important person on earth rather than putting the needs of others above our own needs.
Every positive promise in the Bible is quantified with some type of righteousness. Righteousness is defined as:
- The quality of being right in the eyes of God, including character, conscience, conduct, and command.
- Living in the right relationship with God, other people, and all creation.
- Moral purity, integrity, and adherence to God’s commandments.
When God describes people He blessed in the Bible, He states “because He found them righteous…not perfect!” Righteousness is trying to live up to God’s standards and allowing Him to lead your life. It includes following Jesus’ examples and all of His commandments. It doesn’t mean we won’t make mistakes, but the Bible tells us God KNOWS our HEARTS, and He judges us accordingly:
- Proverbs 21:2 - "People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart."
- Luke 16:15: - "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts."
- Acts 15:8 - "Would not God discover this? For He knows the secrets of the heart."
- Romans 8:27 - "He who searches hearts and knows what is the mind of the Spirit."
- Psalm 139:23-24 - "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!"
To receive the blessings and fulfilling life God has for you, it is required that you do your best to follow all He has commanded and decreed as good for your body, mind, and soul. His rules are not because He is a dictator who is trying to control the rebellion in man, but rather a path to follow so that you are content and peaceful no matter what comes your way. He gave us free will on purpose. He doesn’t want robots who perform acts they have been taught, but rather He wants us to obey Him out of love: love for Him and love for His creation.
God started our journey by giving us 10 Commandments (Exodus 20) and later adding an 11th when Jesus told us to love others as He has loved us. (John 13:34-35)
- Thou shalt not have any other gods before God.
- Thou shalt not make yourself an idol.
- Thou shalt not take the Lord's name in vain.
- Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it Holy.
- Honor your Father and Mother.
- Thou shalt not murder.
- Thou shalt not commit adultery.
- Thou shalt not steal.
- Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
- Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, wife, or property.
- Love others as I have loved you (Jesus)
If you will note, the first four of the ten commandments is to honor and respect God as your Creator. The rest of them direct your behavior in a moral, healthy, and ethical way. How can your life be happy if you are rebellious, lying, stealing, cheating, murdering, and becoming jealous because you desire the things that others have? How can you live a righteous life if you TAKE what is not yours?
The behaviors addressed in the first 10 Commandments are so that you stay focused on your Creator and that you behave in a moral and ethical manner that will serve you well throughout your life. A good analogy would be if you decided to make chocolate chip cookies, but completely ignored the recipe. It is not likely that the end result would be either appealing to you or others. God’s commandments are the recipe for a peaceful, calm, and content life.
Jesus’ 11th commandment is so that we do not become selfish and self-serving. Can you imagine if Jesus approached His mission on earth with that as His moral compass? All of us would be headed for hell because there would be no sacrificial lamb and no salvation. Thankfully God doesn’t expect us to be sinless, but He expects us to follow His commands and do what is right.
Life is always going to have twists and turns. There will be times of upheaval and times of calm. There will be happiness and pain. God doesn’t promise us a life where everything is smooth sailing. Jesus’ life certainly wasn’t easy, but He often separated Himself from the crowd to go pray and ensure He stayed on the path God had for Him.
This is what all the “rules” and commands are about for us. If we follow the directives, then things will go as smoothly as possible and when things aren’t great, then we have God to lean on. He has provided the instructions so that the end result of our life will be “My life is being given as an offering to God, and the time has come for me to leave this life. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now, a crown is being held for me—a crown for being right with God.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8 as stated by Paul)
Rules are made for your benefit and maybe it will be easier to follow them if you change your perspective about their purpose in your life. Amen. Blessings, Lisa ><>
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