commandments vs. promises

Promises always win.

What do you think of when you think of the ten commandments from the Bible? If you're anything like me you instantly get mental images like this...
I think this is very unfortunate. I realized a few years back that the ten commandments are really better understood if they are seen as ten promises from God. When He "commands" us to not forsake Him, what He's really trying to communicate is a promise from His heart to us that He will never forsake us. It's the same with all the other commandments as well.

It's the same with the "great commandment" in the gospels. Jesus said to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. That's because it's exactly how God loves us, with everything He has. If we genuinely understand His love for us then if frees us to love Him in the way He wants us to...from a liberated heart. Don't love God because He told you to. Love God when you figure out how much He first loved you...only then will it really be the love that He is talking about.

Forced love isn't love at all. It's dictatorship.

God loves you. Not because He has to, but because He wants to.
If we truly get ahold of that we can't help but love Him in return.

Promises always beat commandments.

peace,
glo