13 Feb God Has Decided

^“And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” Exodus 20:1-2

Shortly after rescuing Israel from slavery in Egypt under Pharaoh, God spoke these words as he gathered his people at the base of Mount Sinai. We are familiar with the words that follow; they are often referred to as the 10 Commandments.

We often fall into the trap thinking that “keeping” the commandments of God will help us to get on God’s good side or gain his favor somehow. Making a good attempt at trying to keep the 10 Commandments is at least the first step we must take in having a relationship with God, right? We do our best and God will do the rest. Makes sense, but we couldn’t be more dead wrong. 

Notice that before God even speaks any words about “you shall” and “you shall not,” he’s already in a relationship with Israel, and they are in a relationship with God. It’s easy to skip over the verse that precedes the list of words that we call the “10,” but read the verse again; “I am the Lord your God.” These are amazing words of commitment and promise. God had already made a decision to be Israel’s God before Israel could even get a word out of their mouth. Before Israel could give their “amen” to the 10 words of God that followed, God already declared his decision for them; “I am the Lord your God.” And God proclaims his commitment to be the kind of God for them that is in the business of rescuing those who are in dire need. He comes to free those who are not able to rescue and deliver themselves out of their bondage.

God has made the same sort of decision for you, to be your God. How do you know that? He doesn’t gather you at Mount Sinai; but rather, he gathers you at the foot of another mountain, a hill actually, outside of Jerusalem, called Mount Calvary. Here, his Son, Jesus, died for you, bled for you, declared “it is finished” for you, and then rose from the grave for you. All of this God’s beloved Son did in order to declare to you that God has decided to be your God. 

Just like Israel, it is only in the freedom of a loving relationship with the one true God, who has already made a decision for you, that we can respond in faith and love to want to do the very things God has called us to do. We long to do them not because we have to but because we want to! You are loved by God in Jesus, and now you are set free to love God and those whom he has put into your life. Afterall, that’s what love does; it loves back and seeks to share that love with others. May God work in us this kind of love that is wrought by grace and in the true freedom of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

 -Pastor Darrin Sheek