Introduction – Reaching Hurting Women Ministries

As I shared in the RHW 2022 Preview I was contemplating the abounding lawlessness in our world when God pricked my heart with a reminder of the Ten Commandments. I then thought about how Jesus fulfilled that law and gave us the grace and freedom we believers can gratefully enjoy in our everyday lives. Immediately, I knew what I needed to focus on this year. And then this sentence came to me:

“Without God’s law and grace there is no opportunity for recovery from any addiction and therefore no true freedom!”

What To Expect

In the Law/Grace/Freedom study series we’re going to dive into all of these topics and how they relate to each other and to us as Christians. We will go through biblical history and look at the relationship humanity has had with them and what has resulted. I’m no theologian, just a simple woman seeking to obey God’s good and perfect will to the best of her ability. However, I believe, without any doubt, that God is leading me this year more than any year before. These core topics are critical to the body of Christ today.

Spirit Led Study

My traditional approach to writing an RHW study series is to prepare a solid outline far in advance and follow it for the entire year. This study will be very different. I have prepared a loose outline of what I want to learn myself in regards to these topics. Otherwise, it will be the Holy Spirit’s guidance as to how this study proceeds. Should be an exciting and very interesting study!

Contemplate how the Holy Spirit will guide us in this life-changing study as you enjoy this beautiful song by Hillsong Young & Free.

RESOURCES

Pathway to Freedom: How God’s Laws Guide Our Lives by Alistair Begg

The Doctrine of Law & Grace Unfolded by John Bunyan

REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR TopicS FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.

EACH Topic IS A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING VARIOUS INSPIRATIONAL MEDIA.

On the first Friday of each month in 2022 we’re studying The Ten Commandments. Join me as we take a fresh look at some of the most important Scripture in the Bible. We will learn why we need to study, put to memory and obey them. We start today with our Introduction to The Ten Commandments Study. Enjoy…

With our world in an abounding state of lawlessness and immorality what better time to take a serious look at, what are widely considered to be, the best moral code for humanity. Over the next twelve months we will study each of the Ten Commandments individually in depth.

Rebellious People

The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” ~ Genesis 2:15-17

Worldly and Christian people alike are opposed to moral laws being imposed on their lives. Humanity from the beginning of time, rebelled against rules. Even Adam and Eve, with basically only one rule to follow, couldn’t keep it. Today’s modern culture tries to tell us what’s right or wrong. What in the past was always right is now being taught in schools and media to be wrong and vice versa. Without God as the Highest Source and Authority behind them The Ten Commandments would be powerless and subjective to individual beliefs.

The Father Knows Best

And the Lord our God commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear him so he can continue to bless us and preserve our lives, as he has done to this day. ~ Deuteronomy 6:24

Without a set of rules to guide them, people will eventually perish. The sad and frustrating thing is we have been given the best moral code handwritten by the divine Creator of all humanity. If God created us, doesn’t He have the right to make the laws? Like a Good Father, God lovingly gave us ten basic and really simple rules to follow. If we all could just do that, our world would be a much happier and better place.

Why Study The Ten Commandments

Pay attention: I’m teaching you the rules and regulations that God commanded me, so that you may live by them in the land you are entering to take up ownership. Keep them. Practice them. You’ll become wise and understanding. When people hear and see what’s going on, they’ll say, “What a great nation! So wise, so understanding! We’ve never seen anything like it.” ~ Deuteronomy 4:5-6 (MSG)

There was a time in the early 20th Century when most people at least were aware of The Ten Commandments. They might not have been able to recite them from memory. But at least they knew the basics. Sadly, today the majority of people are completely ignorant when it comes to God’s Top Ten Rules for life. Most mainstream churches, even evangelical churches, shy away from teaching God’s Law. If we as Christians, and as a nation, want to see life change for the better, we must begin by going back to the basics. The Ten Commandments are central to not only New Testament ethics but for civilian ethics alike. The most important reason why we should study The Ten Commandments… God’s Law is good for us. We should want to know it!

Why Obey The Ten Commandments

Be strong and brave. Be sure to obey all the teachings my servant Moses gave you. If you follow them exactly, you will be successful in everything you do. ~ Joshua 1:7

It’s not only important that we study and learn The Ten Commandments, we need to put them into practice by obeying them in our everyday life. As Christians we are God’s people. And to be His people we must be set apart and follow His ways. When He gave the Israelites His Law, God was sharing His Father’s heart with us. He is telling us what is important to Him. We must honor that. Most importantly, God loves us and wants the best for us. We need to trust He know what is best and obey Him!

The Ten Commandments Can Turn Our Life Around

The Lord’s teachings are perfect.
    They give new strength.
The Lord’s rules can be trusted.
    They make plain people wise.
The Lord’s orders are right.
    They make people happy.
The Lord’s commands are pure.
    They light up the way.
It is good to respect the Lord.
    That respect will last forever.
The Lord’s judgments are true.
    They are completely right.
They are worth more than gold,
    even the purest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
    even the finest honey.
They tell your servant what to do.
    Keeping them brings great reward. ~ Psalm 19:7-11

In essence, by following The Ten Commandments, one can almost be guaranteed an enjoyable life. If we as a human race would but embrace, put to memory and walk out these basic life rules our individual, family, and work life; local, national and international communities; would all be so much more productive and happy.

Join me over the next year as we dig in and study each of The Ten Commandments. We will learn how to easily put them to memory and apply them to our daily lives so we can be happy and healthy citizens of our world!