F O O T H O L D
READING
63 BLUEPRINT FOR BEHAVIOUR
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PRAY Thank you Father for
your care for our wellbeing. Help me to be
loyal to you and to value
your ways.
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READ Exodus 20:1-21.
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THINK What is the purpose of
these commandments?
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FOCUS This famous passage
contains the Ten Words or Ten Commandments.
They are the key to God's
covenant relationship with his people.
In some ways these
commandments are written like a treaty or
contract. However it is not
strictly a two-sided contract. God is
the redeemer and provider.
It is God who liberated his people
from slavery in Egypt. He
demands loyalty and absolute,
unquestioning obedience.
This loyalty arises from gratitude when
his people realise afresh
how great are God's acts of rescue.
These commandments offer no
reason or exception. They are God's
commands; they express his
character and show us his
requirements.
They begin with a fact - the
living God. If there were no God to
say 'I am the Lord', then
there would be no point in worrying
about commandments. They are
a unique blueprint for behaviour.
Most people divide the ten
into two groups: the first four show
our obligations to God and
the final six show our duty to others.
Some place the fifth in the
first block not just because it is
tidy (!), but also because
of the special sanctity of parenthood.
TO GOD TO OTHERS
1. No rivals 5. Respect
parents
2. Mo images 6. No murder
3. No blasphemy 7. No
adultery
4. Keep the sabbath 8. No
stealing
9. No false witness
10. Do not covet
Notice how the final six
apply not only to actions but also to
our thoughts and motives.
