The Tenth Day in Lent- 10 Commandments Summary

God's word speaks as both law and gospel.  The law hold us  accountable.  It identifies our sin.  It threatens punishment.  When we fail to do as the law demands, we sin against a holy and righteous God.  It is for this reason Luther writes, "God threatens to punish all who break these commandments.  Therefore we are to fear his wrath and not disobey these commandments."  But this is easier said than done, especially when you consider how Jesus, and then Luther in his explanations, makes them even more difficult to follow.  They are excellent laws to strive for, no doubt about that.  But we all fall short and never do enough to keep them.

 But there's more to consider than only the wrath of God.  Luther uses the great conjunction, "however."  "However, God promises grace and every good thing to all those who keep these commandments.  Therefore we are to love and trust him and gladly act according to his commands."  God loves us.  God loves us enough to send his only son to the cross.  We no longer need to be weighed down by guilt or shame.  We can let that go.  As the devotions says, "If you're going to insist on hanging on to your guilt, what on earth do you need Jesus for?"  Knowing that even when we fall short, as we surely will, God still loves and forgives us, the commandments no longer are a burden.  They are gifts of God to teach us how best to live in a relationship with God and with our neighbors.