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Many of us are familiar with the ten commandments given to Moses by God as told in Exodus 20. These commandments serve as the basis of foundational truth for God’s absolute standards for an individual’s interactions with God (the first four commandments) and an individual’s interactions with other people (the last six commandments). As Jesus said, “37You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40). For those who reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Savoir, these ten commandments will be the basis for their condemnation on the final day of judgment (Revelation 20:13-15). However, just so that we are clear, nobody is saved by obeying the ten commandments since this is an impossible task for imperfect people. Instead, the ten commandments serve as benchmarks whereby we are condemned as sinners and point us to the need of a Savior (Galatians 3:21-25).

For those who do put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ and in his redeeming work of atonement on the cross, i.e. Christians who are thereby in-dwelt by the Spirit of God, the adherence to the ten commandments should be an automatic part of our daily disposition and outlook on life. Should a child of God who is renewed by the Spirit really need to be told that we shouldn’t murder other people (or steal, or lie, or commit adultery, etc.)? Would someone who loves God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength really find attending weekly worship services a laborious chore to be avoided, or do we look forward for an opportunity every Sunday (if not also during every day of the week) to worship God and fellowship with our church family?

If any of us should begin to think too highly of ourselves and believe that we have arrived at a state of complete spiritual perfection and holiness in our Christian witness by adherence to these commandments, the Word of God has a way of humbling us. In 1 Thessalonians 5:11-27, Christians are given another 22 Commandments to be obeyed that can be summarized as:
 
  • Encourage one another (verse 11)
  • Build up one another (verse 11)
  • Respect and esteem those in positions of spiritual authority and who’s life work is teach the Word of God (verse 12 and 13)
  • Be at peace amongst yourselves (verse 13)
  • Admonish the unruly and idle (verse 14)
  • Encourage the faint hearted (verse 14)
  • Help the weak (verse 14)
  • Be patient with each other (verse 14)
  • Do not repay evil for evil (verse 15)
  • Always seek to do good to one another and to everyone (verse 15)
  • Rejoice always (verse 16)
  • Pray without ceasing (verse 17)
  • Give thanks in all circumstances (verse 18)
  • Do not quench the Spirit (verse 19)
  • Do not despise prophecies (verse 20)
  • Test everything (verse 21)
  • Hold fast to what is good (verse 21)
  • Abstain from every form of evil (verse 22)
  • Pray for those who give out the Gospel (verse 25)
  • Greet all believers with a holy kiss (or in our culture a hearty handshake or hug should suffice) (verse 26)
  • Share the Word of God (verse 27)

This is a daunting list which is probably the reason these 22 commandments are much less known than the original ten commandments.  Although deliberately walking in the flesh is to be avoided, none of us are perfect people and we are prone to stray from the will of God and instead follow our own desires. Although we still struggle against the world, the flesh and the devil due to our sinful natures, we do have a perfect advocate before God in Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1). Even then, our responsibilities in the fellowship with other believers is to be gracious to one another when we make mistakes or are wronged, extend mercy when we are asked for forgiveness, bear each other’s burdens when life’s struggles come upon us and love one another regardless of the circumstances since love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8)

Today is also Memorial Day: a day of solemn remembrance for those who paid the ultimate price to secure the freedom that we enjoy today. Spend a few moments in gratitude to God Almighty and those laid down their lives for us (John 15:13).

Be encouraged, 
Rick Strong
 		 
 

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