God’s Positive Will: A Christian Paraphrase of The Ten Commandments – Exodus 20

GOD’S POSITIVE WILL
A CHRISTIAN PARAPHRASE OF THE 10 COMMANDMENTS
by Rev Zak Cronjé

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I am the Lord, your God. Jesus redeemed you from the slavery of sin through his suffering on the cross and his triumphant resurrection. You, therefore belong to Me. Confirm your salvation with a grateful life.

Worship only Me the Triune God. I am one.
Love Me openly, at all places, in the manner I ask. I am everywhere.
Worship Me with reverence. Use my Name with respectful awe in your prayers, songs, confessions and conversations. I am holy.
Love Me all the time. Retire frequently at specific times with the purpose of growing in our relationship. Every seventh day is such a time. I am eternal.
Maintain order and discipline. Keep your parents’ name high, because they will sacrifice themselves on your behalf. I establish all authority.
Treasure life. Care for health and quality of life. I am the life and I create all life.
Respect relationships. Be faithful and contribute to harmony. I join together.
Value the possessions, ability and time of others. Be fair, work for what you want and share with less privileged people. I give talents.
Count your words. Encourage your neighbours and serve the community with tactful factual statements. I am the truth.
Desire to know my will and then obey it. Grant other people happiness and prosperity. I am the way and I provide.

Some Biblical foundations for this effort.

Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19
Proverbs 15:3
Hebrews 12:28-29
Luke 4:16; Luke 6:12
Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 13:18; Proverbs 19:18; 2 Timothy 1:7; Romans 13:1-5
Genesis 1:26-31
Proverbs 20:5-7; Mathews 19:4-6
Matthews 25:14-46; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
1 Peter 3:8-12; James 3:3-18
Deuteronomy 6:4-12; Ezekiel 34:25-31; 1 Peter 4:1-2

Of course there are many more scripture passages which could be added.

THE PROMISE

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

The following prayer shines more light on God’s positive will. Found in Uniting in Worship.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

You are the Lord our God who saved us from the slavery of sin through your son Jesus Christ who paid the price on the cross and secured eternal life for us through his resurrection.

Where our devotion was not focused on you alone –

Have mercy on us, O God

Where we have not been satisfied with your own testimony of yourself, seeking to add to it a false image of our own making –

Have mercy on us, O God

God where we used your name disrespectfully or to give credibility to our own false promises or to intimidate others –

Have mercy on us, O God

Where we have worked ceaselessly without stopping to remember and to celebrate that you have delivered us from sin –

Have mercy on us, O God

Where we have not shown respect to people with experience or to people in authority –

Have mercy on us, O God

Where we have become wasters, not respecting the resources of the earth or where we have acted with violence, or out of hate or out of feelings of personal injury –

Have mercy on us, O God

Where we have been unfaithful in thought and in deed, or provided occasion for others to be unfaithful –

Have mercy on us, O God

Where we have been unfair to others, or taken advantage of the kindness others –

Have mercy on us, O God

Where we have lied to one another or testified against another deceitfully, without concern for their reputation or the truth –

Have mercy on us, O God

Where we have been motivated by jealousy or the competitive desire to possess more –

Have mercy on us, O God

and forgive our sins in the name of Jesus

AMEN

THE RELIEF – FORGIVEN!

God has forgiven us all our trespasses, having cancelled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands; this God set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Colossians 2:13, 14

Rev Zak Cronjé,
UCA Minister, Bicton, Perth.

MNEMONIC

A fun way for kids to ‘memorize’ 10 commandments – & the positives
Visualize each number as a rhyming image:

1 Bun: No other gods – bun shaped as a god
2 Shoe: No idols – shoe hung on idol’s feet
3 Tree: No swearing – fall from tree swearing
4 Door: Remember Sabbath – church door
5 Hive: Honour parents – beehive family
6 Sticks: No murder – kill with big stick
7 Heaven: No adultery – no marriage/divorce there
8 Gate: No stealing – thief creeps through gate
9 Vine: No lies – vineyard owner exaggerates
10 Hen: No coveting – wanting friend’s fat hen