While thinking about the 10 Commandments recently, I noticed they're filled with a lot of "Thou shalt not"s. It's kind of like a list of chastisements, which might have been God's goal, as He was pointing out our sin in a very blunt way. THOU SHALT NOT! But what would the commandments look like with a more positive bent? What does it look like when someone obeys them? So I sat down and wrote out (what I believe to be) the 10 Commandments as God's list of "do"s rather than "do not"s.

This is what it looks like when you peek at the positive side of the 10 Commandments:

I love God more than anything in this world.

I will never bow to anything lesser.

I always speak His name with awe and reverence.

I rest and remember Him on the 7th day of the week.

I love my Mom and Dad, and recognize their authority.

I value all life.

I respect the boundaries of other peoples' marriages.

I pay for my possessions.

I speak with honesty and integrity.

I am content with my own things.

~~Becka

Becka,

I love this post.  Well done, sister! 

To amplify your point, while the Ten Commandments are expressed negatively the Sermon on the mount has many positive commandments we're asked to observe.  They're no easier to live up to though.  We still fall short.

One observation about honoring thy father and mother:  While we are told to obey our parents (as children) and respect them, the commandment also meant that adults were supposed to see to it that their elderly parents were not neglected.  It was a financial obligation in a time when there were no social services other than what the children provided. 

 That's good. Jesus is our sabbath  24/7/365 and 366 in a leap year and we rest in Him. Amen.

 Praise The Lord anyhow

 Rickey

David R, in agreement with you, brother!  Perhaps it should be worded: I love my Mom and Dad; as a child I recognize their authority, and as an adult I will take care of them as they once took care of me.

This is the only commandment with a promise -- so that you may live long on the earth!  Ephesians 6:2-3!

~~Becka

Excellent, Becka!! 

Very uplifting and inspired. Thank you Becka.

Your post reminded me of a vid on Torah codes. If I remembrer correctly it said that messiah would return:

1. when Jews are asking for him to come

2. when they keep the sabbath holy (as Becka so beautifully put it, when they rest and remember Him on the 7th day of the week)

The sabbath begins at sunset this evening. Just before opening ceremony Olympics.

PRAISE REPORT:

God sure does know the desires of my heart, even if I don't voice them to Him.  He knows I've been struggling with a personal battle within myself of witnessing to a good friend of mine.  It's hard talking to her about God face to face because she retreats within herself.  I've invited her to Christian outings and spoken vaguely about God.  I've even sent her an email that Jesus loves her when she was really depressed (I got no response).  She's been having a difficult time in her marriage, and thought I was mad at her, and I planted a seed by telling her I'm not mad at her, that the Lord taught me never to hold grudges or hate anyone.

Well, I never can be sure she reads my FB page, as she never posts.  We don't openly talk about God, but I know from prior things she says that she doesn't know much about Him.  I've always felt guilty never sharing the Gospel with her and I felt like such a coward.  I would lament that she might be going to Hell and that her "blood would be on my hands".  But I truly felt the Lord tell me to be patient and give her an example of a true Christian, and that it's in His hands.

I've prayed to God to draw her, I've prayed her eyes will be opened, but I've never asked Him to give me an opportunity to witness to her.  I HAVE asked Him to make me bold to witness FOR Him, but never really to give me the opportunity to do so.

This message about the 10 Commandments was first posted on my FB page and I thought you guys would enjoy it so I posted it here too.  On my FB page, she mentioned that she was now less inclined to obey them seeing them in this light.

At first, I was hurt by her comment, and I didn't respond right away.  I left the computer, and as I was starting my day, God told me to use her comment as an opportunity to witness to her.  This was the time to do it.

So, I did!  It was online, not face-to-face, but I outlined why we needed the 10 Commandments, how they pointed out our sin and need for a Savior.  I used the "Kirk Cameron" method of witnessing, using the 10 Commandments to point out my own sin and need for Christ.  (I'm so bad, an idolatrous, adulterous, murderous, blaspheming thief!)

Anyway, it was a great opportunity that the Lord gave me, that instead of trying to win her in a round-about way by reading random things on my FB page she might not understand, God gave me the opportunity to tell her directly WHY we need Jesus, what He came to do, and how we're now covered by His righteousness through grace when we accept the Holy Spirit into our hearts and repent of our sins.

It wasn't face-to-face, but she wouldn't have received that kind of witness, I don't believe, due to the fact that she HATES confrontation, and that would seem like an "in your face you're a sinner!" kind of thing to her.  So please pray that the seed will take root in her.  I feel as if a weight has been lifted off of me.  I wanted so badly to witness to her by living as an example for Christ.  I have done that to an extent, but I've never just TOLD her about God and our need for Him until today.

Praise God!  \O/  Now I know the fault won't be mine if she doesn't receive the Gospel.  I will continue to minister on my FB page and elsewhere, and perhaps that will water the seed to grow.  Or perhaps nothing will happen at all.  But she will not be able to say one day to Yeshua that she didn't know, that she'd never heard.

My 9 y/o son has witnessed to her son (they're best friends), bless his heart!  And at first, I thought the Lord would minister to her through her young son.  But nope, God gave me the opportunity to tell her directly.  I just hope she accepts His free gift of grace.  Keep Val in your prayers.  :)

~~Becka

Becka, Love this too, Well done!  Very cool...I like the Kirk Cameron method as well...You are planting seeds....God Bless, Jan