The Bible is very particular about the sin of adultery and dealing with its consequences. We want to know why it is such a big deal to God and why we must be sure we do not break this commandment. In doing so, we must first understand God’s design of sex and the importance of it being reserved only in the context of marriage. We also learn that adultery is a matter of the heart not just the body as we identify other forms of adultery in this day and age.
Exodus 20:8-11
It is God’s command for us to rest—we rest for the purpose of being rejuvenated to continue working while trusting God that He provides for our needs. God also commands to keep the Sabbath (rest) holy. We aren’t just called to rest from work, but we are called to rest IN Him. As many Christians have forgotten (as they reject its importance) to keep the Sabbath holy, we want to ensure to prioritize it and faithfully obey this commandment.
Exodus 20:1-17, 13
We remind ourselves that the Law (including the Ten Commandments) is there to protect us not confine us in any way. God, in His loving nature, sets parameters which we can better receive and give the kind of love that He intended for us. Today, we look at the 6th commandment which convey that we are not to murder. This commandment is a reminder that we, as created beings, do not have the right to take anyone’s life as we are to honor and preserve it. Also, we learn that there is another form of murder that is likened to angering and shaming others.
Text: Exodus 20:7
The 3rd commandment says that we are not to use God’s name in vain. This commandment isn’t merely about our speech, specifically cursing, but it is about preserving and reflecting who God is in the way we live. Being called “God’s people” comes with the responsibility of resonating His character and His values. We want to take a hard look at ourselves and be sure that our lives bring God glory and honor.
Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:1-3
Today, we learn the 5th commandment. The command to honor parents is the first of the 6 “horizontal commands” that deal with our relationship with other people. There is an important connection between the way we honor our parents and the way we honor God. Today, we learn what it means to honor our parents as well as why we should honor them. Also, we seek to reconcile our struggles in carrying out the command to “obey” them.
Text: Exodus 20:1-3
Moses receives the Ten Commandments from God. They are given to the Israelites so that they learn to walk in the ways of their one true God. We are obviously no longer under the Law, studying the Ten commandments is timeless in which we are led to understand our sinful nature and help us to live Godly lives. Today, we focus on the first commandment: "You shall have no other gods before Me."
Text: Exodus 19:1~6, 16~17
Three months have passed since God brought the Israelites out of Egypt. It hasn’t been a very easy road trip thus far—people are complaining a lot and Moses, their leader, is under a lot of pressure to lead them to the Promise land. Today, we see God appearing to His people just as He did so with Moses (in chapter 3); God shows up to communicate the clear terms of their relationship going forward. God is and always has been about one thing: restoring the intimacy between Him and His people. In the same way, God longs for us to be separated onto Him, a holy nation.
Exodus 17:8-16
The Israelites are engaged in their first battle since leaving Egypt. They were not trained soldiers and have had little to no experience in fighting. Here, God continues to teach them to fully rely on Him; the outcome of the battle was solely contingent upon whether Moses’ praying arms were upheld. Today, we want to recognize the greater battle in our lives—we want to learn and engage that our main battle lies on the hilltop and in the presence of God. Prayer isn’t an option but a necessity for God’s people as we grow to understand that all of our battles belong to the LORD.
It takes time for God’s will and promise to be actualized in our lives. We often confuse the moment we receive His promise as the moment we should start experiencing all the rewards of His promise. However, God often takes us on a journey where we are shaped and trained where we become suitable to shoulder His Word and will. It is important that we do not give up when facing adversity in the process but trust in God as He is always faithful in leading us to where we need to be.
The resurrection of Christ highlights God’s power that reigns over all things including death. Death has a grip on us in such way that exposes our inability to combat or cope with it. The resurrection empowers us to no longer fear what is considered the end for man. It is imperative to understand while the cross signifies the atonement of our sins, it is the empty tomb that give us the ultimate victory over death and sin. Today, we are reminded of Jesus’ promise of eternal life when we place our faith in Him.