Better Life: The Ten Commandments Part #1

Part #1

Steps to a Better Life

A Study of the Ten Commandments

Welcome to the Blizzard of 2022! Well, it’s not exactly a blizzard, it’s cold, windy and rainy. If you are from the North … it’s just another day. If you are from the South … it’s a blizzard. We are glad to have you here and I especially want to welcome our South Campus and our online campus. Let me know that you are watching … share it on social media.

You know that I like to start with something funny:

Did you hear about the blonde driving a car became lost in a snowstorm? She didn't panic however, because she remembered what her dad had once told her. "If you ever get stuck in a snowstorm, just wait for a snow plow to come by and follow it." A few minutes later a snow plow came by, and she started to follow it.

She followed the plow for about forty-five minutes. Finally, the driver of the truck got out and asked her what she was doing. And she explained that her dad had told her if she ever got stuck in a snow storm, to follow a plow.

The driver nodded and said, "Well, I'm done with the Wal-Mart parking lot, do you want to follow me over to Best Buy now?"

You do know how do you find Will Smith in a snowstorm, don’t you? Follow the fresh prints.

We are so glad that you are here. Some time ago, a Gallup Poll revealed that 84% of Americans believe that the Ten Commandments are a valid guide to life. That’s encouraging until you realize that another survey revealed that only 30% of those polled could name even 3 of the Commandments.

For many generations the Ten Commandments were considered a standard part of a good American education. Children learned to recite all ten, but those days are over.

They may be over, but the Ten Commandments are still important. I have done a poor job in teaching these lessons. Over the last couple of weeks, I looked over my notes and realized that I have not presented a message on the Ten Commandments for a long time …. Like nearly 20 years. If you can’t name the Ten Commandments, I take some of the blame. Like I said, they are important and Exodus 20 tells us why.

Exodus 20:1

1 And God spoke all these words:

God spoke all these words—therefore they have lasting moral authority and these words deserve our attention. The Ten Commandments were written by God … on two stone tablets … and given to Moses on Mount Sinai.

The first tablet has four commandments that deal with our relationship with God and the second tablet has six statements that deal with our relationship with other people. They teach us to love God and love people. Here’s the Big Idea.

The Ten Commandments teach us to love God and love people. We are not saved by them, but we are kept safe by them.

Exodus 20:1-2

1 And God spoke all these words:

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Right up front, The Lord reminded people of Israel that He had selected them to be His chosen people. In this statement, He is reminding them that He has redeemed them from four hundred years of Egyptian slavery. They were His chosen people and God uses these ten statements to communicate what He expects in return.

So many people look at these ten statements and say that they are negative, but they are not. They are actually positive … they are Steps to a Better Life.

I believe that everyone of us can grow in our faith if we embrace the principles of Exodus 20. Here is the first Commandment.

Exodus 20:3

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

God is very clear about what He expects. This is a statement about priorities. The First Commandment teaches us the importance of having our priorities in order.

Here’s the point.

1. Put God first. This will be the best year of your life if it is your best year spiritually.

God wants you prioritize your lives around Him.

God wants to be number one in your life.

Matthew 6:33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Here’s what I know.

When you put God first in your life, He will take care of everything else.

Proverbs 3:6

“In everything you do, put God first and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success.”

I don’t know anybody who doesn’t want to be a success in life. Here God is giving you the secret of true success. The secret of success is to put God first in your life!