October 17th

Exodus 19:1-20:26, Mark 1:29-2:17, Psalm 22:12-21

Some people say that rules are made to be broken but some rules are actually the bedrock of good relationships. When we are pretty confident that the person sat opposite us on the train is unlikely to kill us or steal our phone or laptop then we a) feel more comfortable and b) are likely to have a better relationship with them. Do not steal and do not commit murder, to name just two rules, are quite key to how we relate to people, and when they break down, relationships break down.

The Ten Commandments offer us rules that are a basis for good relationships with God as well as the people that he has put around us.

I’ve watched a couple of sermons and seen stuff on Facebook recently that just point to the scale of God and his amazing power. The verses leading up to the Ten Commandments shows us this huge God coming to the top of mount Sinai. These verses are not God being a bit precious and saying “don’t touch me”, he is really protecting the people because the power that is contained within God is just too much for humans to comprehend.

In the Gospel people feel the reality of the power of God in action through Jesus but it is not just humans. In the spiritual realm, the demons and evil spirits have been around long enough to know God, and to know that Jesus is the Son of God. And so they were scarred. What is so amazing is that this is not just historical testimony, it is what we can see in action today, it is the might of God that works the same today as it did yesterday and 2000 years ago.

What do we need to do to see it at work today? “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35) Pray, pray and pray again. When we pray and live by God’s rules the relationship with him is a good one and it is an active one.