We call them the ‘The Ten Commandments’  Hebrew text speaks about them as the ‘Ten Words’ Ten words necessary to establish the necessary conditions for a free, loving and just community of God’s people to develop in.

They are:

Only One God: What is your greatest priority? Jesus said in Matthew 22:37 “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.” One True Higher Power and His name is Jesus Christ.

No Idols: Worship only Him. Genesis 1:27 God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female. Are you living in the likeness of God? Is there anything in your life you are putting ahead of Him?

Don’t Misuse God’s Name: God demands we represent Him properly. Acts 17:28  says “We live and move in him, can’t get away from him! One of your poets said it well: ‘We’re the God-created.'” As such we should respect Him and communicate His importance in our lives to others as His chosen children.

Sabbath Rest: Time set apart for rest, spiritual rejuvenation and worship. An opportunity to draw closer to God and enhance our relationship with Him. 1 Peter 2:2 says “Like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness. Then you’ll grow up mature and whole in God.”

Honour Your Father And Your Mother: Take seriously your relationships with
elders, they are older and wiser because they have more ‘Life Experience.’  Mark 7:13 says when we  fail to honour our parents “You scratch out God’s Word and scrawl a whim in its place.”

Don’t Murder:  Life is a precious gift! 2 Peter 3:9  says “God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.” 
Anger and rage in our life have no place and because God loves us all and values us all and tells us   “Here is a simple rule of thumb for behaviour: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! Luke6:31 We should see the best in everyone and seek the best for everyone.

No Adultery: Men and women are designed by God to be together. Ecclesiastes 9:9 says “Relish life with the spouse you love Each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God’s gift.”  The decline in commitment to marriage and family in this world has contributed to the increase in broken homes and extramarital affairs. It is time or us to return to what God intended and obey God’s commandment of ‘No Adultery’

No Stealing: Practice Giving Rather Than Getting. Don’t take things or ideas that don’t belong to you. Don’t cheat on your taxes for personal benefit. Matthew 6:25 says  “If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body.” We need to concentrate on building Godly character and values.

Giving False Testimony: Always tell the truth! Our personal relationship with Jesus is dependent on our acceptance of His Word and Truth. Ephesians 4:15 says “God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love–like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do.”  We do that by telling the truth and demonstrating love sincerely for others.

 No Coveting: This commandment is more about how we think than how we act. God as our Provider gives us all we need to live the lives He has called us to live.  Jesus said: Mark 7:20-23 “It’s what comes out of a person that pollutes: obscenities, lusts, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, depravity, deceptive dealings, carousing, mean looks, slander, arrogance, foolishness– all these are vomit from the heart. There is the source of your pollution.”  God wants our concern for others to be the motivation of our life desires. To do that we need to replace our desire for what others have with ‘service.’

If we are going to live successfully in community with others seeking and carrying out God’s will for our lives need to become our ‘Greatest Priority.’.