November 17, 2024 "Tools Of Self Examination"

ReNew Ames Messages

Last week was the most important commandment - this week we go waaay back to the basics and talk about the ten commandments. We're starting by talking about the story of God saving the Israelites from Egypt. Basically a summary of the first 19 chapters of the book of Exodus. God parks them at the base of a mountain and says, "Okay, after I saved you, here's our arrangement. Here's how you live in relationship with me and with each other." A few thoughts about the commandments as a whole. The first thing is - this wasn't anything new for the Israelites. If you go back through the book of Genesis, you'll find all the commandments represented there. Cain, don't kill Abel. Abraham, put away all your false gods, etc. It's nothing new. And they're nothing new for us, either. It's not that we don't know them - it's just that we don't follow them. It's the same with the greatest commandment - love God, love people - it's not that we don't know it, we just don't do it very well. That's why this second idea is helpful. The ten commandments - just like the greatest commandment - is like a mirror in front of our faces. God sets the bar too high for anyone to attain. They're not there so we reach perfection; they're there so we can see how we're doing. It's a tool for self-examination - self-reflection. This is why we can't put them up on the wall and force others to live by them. That's disrespecting them by making them into something they are not. They're a reminder that we aren't perfect. The reason the bar is set so high is so that we'll come to the understanding that we're gonna need God's help to become the kind of people God wants us to be. Last idea: this is the first time that God speaks to the entire nation of Israel at one time. We get the sense that God is speaking directly to us. God is saying, "Look, I made you. I love you deeply. I know what it takes for you to live well with each other and what it will take for you to live well with me." Speaker: Aaron Vis Scripture: Exodus 20:1-21 http://bible.com/events/49349548