June 29, 2008 SOAP Devotional

June 29, 2008
Read Exodus 20
To read this text go to: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus%2020&version=51

Scripture- Exodus 20:1- Then God gave the people all these instructions:


Observations- God gives the people the Ten Commandments. These are given by God directly to the people—Moses does not act as an intermediary. This is not a collection of laws, because there are not punishments listed (the 2nd and 5th appear to have penalties, but those are more like “motivational clauses” designed to promote the observance of the divine instructions). Only these are written by the finger of God in the stone tablets. All other regulations and instructions are written down by Moses. These are the conditions of God’s covenant relationship with the Israelites. They are listed in the order of descending priority and focus on the Israelites’ relationship first to the Lord and then to other people. They are to be single minded in their devotion to the One who delivered them out of Egypt. That devotion to God will also be reflected in the way they act/treat others.

Application- Many would like to do away with the Ten Commandments. They seem to some to be harsh and legalistic. These are given by God to the people to help them understand that God desires an exclusive relationship. They, and we, are to worship no other gods and treasure this relationship because God treasures us (Ex. 19:5). We were created for relationship with God and that relationship was broken by sin. From that time to this, God has been pursuing humanity trying to win our allegiance back. This does not come without some responsibility on our part, though. Our surrender to God and obedience to Him should have a profound effect on our behavior. Our lives should show the evidence of God’s transforming love through the way we act toward God and how we treat others. God is not a fire insurance policy, but desires an exclusive relationship.

Prayer- Lord, help me to see how completely You desire to transform my life. Help me to count the cost and not take our relationship for granted. Thank you for offering me Your mercy and grace by being so lovingly patient with my wanderings. You know how prone I am to nibble my way lost. Keep calling me back and setting me on the right path. Amen.
Glad to be on the journey with you!
Pastor Matt