If you want to enter life, keep the commandments. Matthew 19:17 (ESV)

 

Religions tend to have rules and Karina always hated rules—they seemed to spoil her fun and limit her creativity.

You may agree with Karina–many people view God’s commandments as a boring list of rules. Rules can be created for lots of reasons and control is one of them. But good leaders create guidelines for health and setting people up for success. God, the best leader, designs commandments for our benefit. Jesus said, “if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17, ESV).

When the Bible says, “You must not have any other god but me,” (Exodus 20:3) God is sharing His desire for a real and authentic relationship with you. He’s saying, “I’m the only real God who can give you a living, back and forth relationship! I want that with you. I can unlock your identity and reveal your purpose. Throw away all those other things you chase in your life and experience real relationship with me.”

When the Bible says to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy, (Exodus 20:8) God is inviting us to live a life where we take the time to rest, regularly restoring hearts, minds, and bodies. Commands not to steal teach us how to have respectful relationships and practice contentment. Each command is a window into what God is like and how we can live a beautiful life with Him.

When you understand God’s heart toward you, His commandments become life-giving secrets that bless your life. As writer G.K. Chesterton put it, “The more I considered Christianity, the more I found that while it had established a rule and order, the chief aim of that order was to give room for good things to run wild.”[1]

[1] Chesterton, G.K. Orthodoxy. John Lane Company, 1908. Pp 176.