THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

They are NOT ten suggestions.

They are NOT ten guidelines or principles.

They are commandments. Laws. Demands.

God said, “This is what you must do! You must not deviate from them. You must not compromise …”

The first and second of the ten are … “Do not have other gods besides me. Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them!” (Exodus 20:3-5).

God explained why… “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God!” (Exodus 20:5). The Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent Creator will not share our affection or our allegiance with a lesser god.

God also explained what should motivate us to follow His instruction.

God did NOT say, “I’m the King! Do what I say because I say it!”

God said, “I have mercifully earned your allegiance by extracting you from Egypt, from slavery, from misery and shame. I have proven My love for you … so respond by lovingly complying with my leadership. Because I saved you, you should want to serve Me!”

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery” (Exodus 20:2).

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6–8).

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).