Clarity

There are times when we look, hear, or read something and come away with a certain understanding based on how it was presented. We look at an object, we only see the front, or we hear someone speaking but it’s muffled or we read an article that is written with a certain bent.

Our takeaway would be completely different if when viewing, let’s say a car, we were able to look on the inside and outside of the vehicle. We took time to look under the hood, take a test drive, and check out all the gadgets, we would have a better appreciation of the car than if we were looking at a brochure.

That being said, I ran across The Ten Commandments written more as positive affirmations and less like forbidding rules. What if God had stated the same principles this way:

I love you s much that I will give you Myself. I am true reality, the only God you will ever need. In Me alone will you find wholeness.

I desire a wonderful thing: a direct, personal relationship between myself and each of you. You don’t need inferior representations of Me, such as dead wooden idols. You can have Me. Value that.

I love you so much that I have given you My name. You will be known as God’s people on the earth. Value the privilege; don’t misuse it by profaning your new name or by not living up to it.

I have given you a beautiful world to work in, play in, and enjoy. In all your enjoyment, do not forget Me, and remember to set aside a day to refresh your soul and rest your body.

Human life is sacred. I gave it and it has enormous worth. Cling to it. Respect it; it is the image of God. He who ignores this and commits the sacrilege of murder must be punished.

The deepest human relationship possible is marriage. I created it to solve the essential loneliness in the heart of every person. To spread what is meant for marriage alone, among a variety of people will devalue and destroy that relationship. Save sex and intimacy for its rightful place within marriage.

I am entrusting you with property. You can own things and use them responsibly. Ownership is a great privilege. For it to work, you must respect everyone else’s right to ownership; stealing violates that right.

I am a God of truth. Relationships only succeed when they are governed by truth. A lie destroys contracts, promises, trust. You are worthy of trust: express it by not lying.

I have given you everything to enjoy, just remember people are always more important than things. Love people; use things. Do not use people for the love of your things. (An excerpt from Fearfully and Wonderfully Made)

“Those who have ears, let them hear and those who have eyes, let them see”.