In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Ephesians 2:21-22. What beautiful words, what amazing truth…that we are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

“Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: Instruction will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations. Isaiah 51:4.

We come to Exodus 20. God spoke all these words…v. 1. He has personally brought out a people, descended from Abraham, His friend, who will grow to encompass all people. At this time, He’s giving them laws to live by so they can worship God in truth and worship God alone. He’s teaching them how to worship Him. He alone brought them out of the slavery of Egypt. He alone will bring us out of the slavery to sin. How do we love God? Have no other gods before Him. Have no idols that you make and then bow down to. Honor His name for it is great; do not misuse the name of Almighty God. Remember the Sabbath that the Lord blessed and made holy…rest from labor and honor Him by being with Him in joyful worship and rest. Honor your parents. Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not give false testimony. Do not covet what others have. v. 2-17.

He gave a people who did not know Him instructions in how to love Him and live peacefully with one another. The first four teach how to honor and love God; the last six how to love one another. One day Jesus was asked “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ (Deuteronomy 6:5). This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Leviticus 19:18). All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.

Personally, I think the saddest verses in Exodus 20 are the response of the people. When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” v. 18-19.

Oh…speak to me, Lord! Let my heart be open to Your truth, to Your heart and leading. Do we listen? Do we long for God to be near and not at a distance? Imagine if you can what this world would be like if everyone loved God and their neighbor as God loves. How different would this world be? For everyone? Even as the Law was given God knew what would happen and made provision because He is our Creator and He provides. Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” (Genesis 12:7; 13:15; 24:7), meaning one person, who is Christ. What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise. Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of the transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one. Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Galatians 3:15-22.

Faith. Scripture is filled with our ancestors hurting one another. The Law couldn’t stop people from sinning. We still sin and harm one another. And God is still faithful. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45.

Jesus was teaching His disciples how to love God and how to love one another. God is always first. Not us. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself. Only God can impart life. He alone provides the way. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17. Jesus fulfilled everything. And because of that great love and provision, we too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Instead of keeping a distance, draw near…walk with Him as you experience your life. He’s here and He will show the way and we will be built together.