Fear, Love and Trust

Last week, as we began our journey through the 10 commandments, we celebrated the promise God speaks as these commandments begin: “I am the Lord your God.”  And we said that this was a safe place to begin exploring the commandments as a gift.  Let me elaborate on that idea of gift here in this brief note.

If the commandments are not the way we earn God’s promises, nor the way we show our love to God, they are now free to be what God designs them to be.  God designs these laws to be a gift to us in two profound ways.

First, they are a guide for healthy living.  For ourselves and our neighbors near and far.  The commandments place boundaries around our relationship with God and with one another.  Following them gives life.  In the first commandment, God demands that we have no other gods before Him.  We are to fear, love and trust him about anything else, says Luther in his explanation of this command.  God knows that the gifts He gives us can quickly become gods to us.  But if we rely on them instead of Him, our relationship with Him and others will break down.  So, God tells us, “Stop!” whenever we are tempted to put our ultimate trust in anything other than Him.

Which brings us to the second use of these commands: they are a mirror to remind us of our shortcomings.  Just one commandment in, we realize that we are utter failures in the commandment obedience business.  And we need God’s grace and forgiveness in the face of such sinful idolatry.

But joy of joys, even in our repentance is a gift.  Coming to God to confess our sinful failure to keep the commandments is a way in which we keep the commandments!  Do the gifts of God ever end?

Grace and peace, dear friends in Christ.  May you be strengthened to fear, love, and trust God above anything else today … and grace enough to keep going when you inevitably fail to do that.


P.S. – If you haven’t registered for a sanctuary service September 27, or October 4, do so soon: https://www.wadenaimmanuel.org/sanctuary-worship-registration. 

And if you haven’t heard about our fall education plans, check out: https://www.wadenaimmanuel.org/education

Check out our news page to learn more and for other important announcements: https://www.wadenaimmanuel.org/announcements

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