The Ten Commandments

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” — Matthew 5:17 A stop sign on a nearby streetcorner is visible from our front yard. I often notice how people observe this traffic regulation. Some drivers come to a full stop before crossing the intersection. Many others merely slow down before rolling on through it. Some drivers don’t slow down at all.If we’re honest, most of us will admit that we don’t always agree with or even obey some laws. Some laws make perfect sense to us, and we readily obey them. But we might ignore other laws, like when we drive up to a stop sign that can seem unnecessary or inconvenient.But what about God’s laws? The Old Testament is filled with laws, rules, and regulations. Lots of dietary and ceremonial rules that applied to God’s people before Jesus came are obsolete today. Jesus fulfilled those when he died to pay for our sin once for all (Hebrews 9-10) and then rose from the grave to give us new life. But the Ten Commandments are not optional. Jesus summarized those when he taught about loving God and loving our neighbors (Matthew 22:37-40). The Ten Commandments tell us how we are to live in response to God and with the people around us.This month, as we reflect on the Ten Commandments, we will see how relevant they are for our everyday lives.  Father God, only in loving and obeying you, as we have learned through Jesus, can we find peace, joy, and new life. Help us to live for you and to share your love and good news with neighbors everywhere. Amen.