notesbynora

When most people hear the phrase “The Ten Commandments,” they think of rules. Restrictions. Lists of what not to do. But the more I’ve walked with the Lord, the more I’ve realized something beautiful:

The Ten Commandments are not just laws. They are expressions of God’s love. They are boundaries meant to protect our hearts, our homes, and our relationships.

Before God ever gave a command, He gave a declaration: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt.” — Exodus 20:2

In other words: “I rescued you. I love you. Let Me show you how to live in freedom.”

Just as a parent sets boundaries for a child—not to control them, but to keep them safe—God gives us these commandments because He wants us to flourish.

Let’s look at them through that lens:

1–4: Loving God

The first four commandments are about the relationship with Him:

No other gods

No idols

Honor His name

Keep the Sabbath

These aren’t about restriction — they’re about connection. They remind us that our hearts were made for Him, and when He is first, everything else aligns. When we rest, we remember who holds our lives together.

5–10: Loving People

The last six commandments protect our relationships with one another:

Honor your parents

Don’t murder

Don’t commit adultery

Don’t steal

Don’t lie

Don’t covet

These commandments form the foundation of a healthy community. They honor dignity, trust, and peace. They aren’t about perfection — they’re about protection. God’s heart is always relational.

And here’s the beauty:

Jesus took all ten and summarized them into two.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart…”

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

— Matthew 22:37–39

Love God. Love people. Everything flows from that.

I think about the times in my own life when God’s boundaries kept me from going down roads that would have hurt me — or my children. His commandments have been guardrails, keeping me from falling into traps I didn’t see.

And I think about the moments when I wished the world around me followed them — when broken commitments, lies, betrayal, or hurt reminded me how fragile the human heart can be.

The Ten Commandments aren’t about earning God’s approval. They’re about living in the safety of His design. His boundaries are gifts — invitations to wholeness.

We live in a world that often resists boundaries. But children thrive when they have them. Adults do too. Boundaries remind us that we’re loved — that someone cares enough to say, “This way leads to life; that one leads to heartache.”

And even when we fall short (and we all do), grace meets us there. Jesus didn’t come to erase the law, but to fulfill it — to show us how to walk in love so deeply that obedience becomes a response, not a requirement.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the weight of the commandments, hear this truth today:

You are not expected to keep them in your own strength. You are invited to walk with the One who empowers you to live them out. And when you stumble, He lifts you with mercy.

The Ten Commandments point us to the heart of a God who desires freedom, not bondage. Peace, not chaos. Love, not harm. Wholeness, not destruction. They are not burdens. They are blessings — reminders that God’s way is always the way to life.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for Your commandments — not as restrictions, but as loving boundaries that protect my heart and guide my steps. Help me to love You with all that I am and to love others the way You love me. When I fall short, remind me of Your grace and draw me close again. Amen.