tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25723085.post-1146229324911273642006-04-28T13:57:00.000+01:002006-04-28T14:02:04.923+01:00<p>Have you noticed that everything you buy these days comes with a ‘rule book’, and a ‘set of instructions’. I recently replaced my watch and the instruction book I got with it is almost as thick as the New Testament! In it is everything you need to know to use the watch – the only problem is you need a magnifying glass to read it!</p><p>I guess it is no co-incidence that God should lay down for humanity some ‘Rules for Life’. Isn’t it amazing that God reduced all life’s moral responsibilities down to ten rules and called them the Ten Commandments.</p><p>We live in a society where the moral goal posts seem to shift on a yearly basis, and people who pin their lives on them often end up decimated and depressed. God’s guidelines for living have stood the test of time and have been a sure and solid foundation to build their lives upon.</p><p>Sadly, as one Rabbi who survived the Auschwitz death camp once said, ‘We now exist in a world where all ‘Ten Commandments, have been reversed!’</p><p>At one time you could expect to see the ‘Ten Cs’ hanging at the front of most churches (a constant reminder for God’s law) and whilst I wouldn’t want to go back to that we need to remind ourselves that Matthew 5:17 Jesus says, <em>“Do not think that I came to destroy the law... I did not come to destroy but to fulfil.”</em></p><p>The Ten Cs in Exodus 20 flow from the character of God himself and are perfectly embodied in the person of Christ.</p><p>These are not just archaic laws given to an ancient nation but are a description of the ‘Character of Christ’ being re-produced in the lives of all Christians today by the Holy Spirit.</p><p align="center"><strong>Ten Cs in Brief<br /></strong>Above all else we love God alone<br />Bow down to neither wood nor stone<br />Gods name refuse to take in vain<br />The Sabbath rest with care maintain<br />Respect your parents all your days<br />Hold sacred human life always<br />Be loyal to your chosen mate<br />Steal nothing neither small nor great<br />Report with truth your neighbours deed<br />Rid your mind of selfish greed </p><p>In 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul said he was free to do anything, but he would not become the slave of anything. True freedom is not being free to do anything we want but being free to exercise self control (John 8:36) and self control (Galatians 5:20) is a fruit of the Holy Spirit moving in our lives. So when we become Christians the fact is we can either make good choices or bad choices – the Holy Spirit wants to lead us from bondage to freedom.</p>John Lewis - Gorsley Chapelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00657989495797534537noreply@blogger.com