PROMISE 53 – KEEPING GOD'S COMMANDMENTS

"For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; That the generations to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his Commandments."- Psalm 78:5-7

The only way to live a life of complete obedience to God is to know His commandments. As I mentioned previously, the Hebrew word translated law in Psalms 78:5 is Torah, a word that refers to the first five books of the Bible – inspired writings that contain the Mosaic law. According to Jewish tradition, the Torah contains 613 Commandments (365 negative commandments and 248 affirmative ones). Not all of these are required of God's people now because of Jesus's coming and the fact that he fulfilled the law. However, we are not without law. The Bible says we are under the law to work Christ (1 Corinthians 9:21). In other words obedience to the currently applicable command that should result from our devotion to the Lord Jesus.

You would think that with the establishment of the new covenant – the covenant is celebrates the grace of God – the number of commandment will decrease. Actually, the opposite has happened. There are approximately 1050 in the New Testament; however, the emphasis is no longer on just keeping rigid rules and regulations. Jesus shifted our attention upward to the first great commandment (loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength), and the second that is like it (loving our neighbor as ourselves). The Messiah insisted, on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:40.) If we teach our children this dual – emphasis in life – loving God and loving others – all other commandments should fall into place.

PRAYER DECLARATION

LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, I DECLARE THAT WE AS A FAMILY ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU. I SUBMIT YOUR AUTHORITY AND THE LEAD IN YOUR COMMANDMENTS. I TRUSTING YOUR PROMISE TO WRITE YOUR LAW WITHIN MY HEART – AND I PRAY YOU WOULD DO THE SAME FOR MY CHILDREN, THAT WE MAY HAVE A NATURAL, INBORN INCLINATION TO WALK IN YOUR WAYS. I PRAY THAT JOSHUA AND MIKAYLA WILL WILLINGLY EMBRACE THE FIRST GREAT COMMANDMENT TO LOVE GOD WITH ALL THEIR HEARTS, AND THE SECOND GREAT COMMANDMENT, WHICH IS TO LOVE OTHERS AS WE LOVE OURSELVES. AS THESE COMPLEMENTARY ATTITUDES TAKE OVER MY CHILDREN'S ART AND LIVES, KEEPING THE REST OF YOUR COMMANDMENTS WILL AUTOMATICALLY ENSUE. I WILL PASS THIS KNOWLEDGE ONTO MY CHILDREN, BELIEVING THAT JOSHUA AND MICHAELA WILL HAVE A PASSION TO LIVE WITH IAN YOUR REVEALED WILL FOR HUMANKIND. IN THE NAME OF JESUS AMAN (LET IT BE SO)!