TEN (1) - THE RULES
The main idea for most religions is that there’s a “good God” and there are “bad people.”
Where did we get the notion that in order for God to answer our prayers or love us or accept us, we have to be good and behave ourselves?
The idea that God loves and accepts us based on our behavior didn't come from God at all. God’s message is just the opposite.
So where did we get this idea?
For most, it comes back to the story of the Ten Commandments.
You can discover a lot about a person by the laws he or she makes.
God’s rules reveal what’s important to Him.
TRUTH “I am the LORD your God” (Exodus 20:1 NIV).
“Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat” (Exodus 12:3-4 NIV).
God acted first. God moved first. God proved Himself first. Before the rules, before the requirements, before God asked anything of Israel, God made His character known. He made His love known. He made the relationship known.
Rules are never the starting point for a relationship with your heavenly Father.
The number one thing for God was simply, “Will you trust Me?”
The rules are simply a confirmation of the relationship that already existed.
God has invited you into a relationship based on nothing you do but on something He’s done.
He has delivered you through the blood of His Son.
God is not a God who operates through guilt manipulation.
God has already made it clear that more than anything, a relationship matters, and His rules are simply a confirmation of that relationship.
www.xp3students.org - A product of the reThink Group, Inc. 2009 - Andy Stanley