As believers, we can struggle to please God in everyday life. How are we to walk like Christ despite our imperfections?
We have seen over the last past months what each commandment means and how we are to live it out. Looking at the commandments, it’s a selfless life.
Learning to love God
The first four commandments instruct us on how to love and serve God. We are to love Him with our whole being. Our hearts, mind and soul must be surrendered to Him. Therefore, what we say and think should reflect our lives for Christ.
We should study His Word
Reading and studying the Bible teaches us to know God and His word better. We learn about His character and His standards for living. The more we learn about Him the more we know what pleases Him. When we please God, we show Him our love.
Pray
Spending time talking with God helps us to draw closer to Him. When we give thanks and tell Him our needs, we learn to trust in Him with our lives.
What does Jesus say and do?
Jesus tells His disciples what they must do. “And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37 NASB
“I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 NASB
If we say that we love God, that love should flow into how we treat others.
In the gospels, we read how Christ loved people. He served them. He forgave them. As we read the rest of the New Testament, the apostles tell believers and us today how to live like Christ.
“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law. For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law.” Romans 13:8-10 NASB
The ten commandments are a starting point in our lives as believers. The commandments show us that we cannot keep the law perfectly. We need a redeemer. Christ is our redeemer.
He kept the law perfectly for us. By accepting Christ’s gift of salvation, we are made perfect through Christ.
As believers, the commandment shows us how to live and please God. We will not be perfect, but Christ’s forgiveness is there for us to keep trying to be like Him. While there are other ways to love others, as shown in the New Testament, the best way to love others is to share how Christ can change their life.
