10 Commandments Devotional for Families
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The Ten Commandments are the most famous set of laws in human history. They have guided the laws of governments and the lives of people for thousands of years. What makes these ten rules so important?
Most people think that the Ten Commandments are God’s “No” list of laws not to break. It is true that eight of the ten begin with “Do not . . .” This has led some to think that God’s intent is to be controlling – but that is actually the opposite of what is true. What then are we supposed to do with the Ten Commandments? The answer is easy – know them and show them! Deuteronomy 5:1 “Israel, listen to me. Here are the rules and laws I’m announcing to you today. Learn them well. Be sure to follow them.” Deuteronomy 6:6 “The commandments I give you today must be in your hearts.” God clearly wants us to know His commandments. After all, if you are going to play a game, you have to learn the rules first! Once we know them, we can show them through obedience to them. Then, when people ask us about our great lives, we can be ready to tell them about our great God. Deuteronomy 6:7-9 “Make sure your children learn them. Talk about them when you are at home. Talk about them when you walk along the road. Speak about them when you go to bed. And speak about them when you get up. Write them down and tie them on your hands as a reminder. Also tie them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses. Also write them on your gates.” God does not only want us to learn His commandments. He wants them on our foreheads, doors, and city gates – on display where the world can see them.
When asked which commandment was the most important, the Ten Commandments were summarized by Jesus. Matthew 22:37 “Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all of your mind.’ This is the first and most important commandment. And the second is like it. ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ Everything that is written in the Law and the Prophets is based on these two commandments.” Jesus had mastered how to know and show. He knew that all the commandments of God were based on loving God and loving your neighbors, and quickly quoted scriptures on both (Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18). The Ten Commandments are structured just like Jesus’ answer. The first five are about loving God and the last five are about loving your neighbors.
Deuteronomy 5:7 “Do not put any other gods in place of me.”