How do we follow God? How does God want us to live?
During our life, with age, we often get thoughts about how to live right, to act properly, where to look for happiness and the true meaning of life. We do not find satisfaction either in expensive purchases or in our achievements ...
We've heard about Jesus saving our lives. Is that enough or we actually need to do anything ourselves?
Bible describes a journey of individual people and nations from the beginning of times and allows to form a pretty good picture of who God is, why He created us and what is expected from us. But let’s start at the beginning.
Let's take a look at the 10 commandments from Old testament delivered to us from God by Moses. The 10 commandments were given to people thousands of years ago, they are short and simple and serve as a great start to those who want to know what God wants from us.
- You shall have no other gods before me.
- Do not bow down to an image of anything...
- You hall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
- Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
- Honor your father and mother.
- You shall not murder.
- You shall not commit adultery.
- You shall not steal.
- You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
- You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Before we get to the details of each of the commandments, let's look at a more recent writing to get a word about these commandments from Jesus Christ, the only Son of True God.
“夫子，律法上的诫命，哪一条是最大的呢？” 耶稣对他说：“你要尽心、尽性、尽意爱主──你的 神。 这是诫命中的第一，且是最大的。 其次也相仿，就是要爱人如己。 这两条诫命是律法和先知一切道理的总纲。”( 马太福音 22:36-40 )
As per Jesus, the basis for all of these commandments that we are going to review is love & care for others.
1. You shall have no other gods before me. Or, You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.
Throughout the history, people were creating gods from silver, gold, wood, clay and worshiping them with sophisticated rituals, sacrificing innocent animals and people, often newborns… In modern age the most common gods or idols are wealth and power. To serve these idols, we only think of how to get more money or power despite having enough already. We turn away from helping others, lose compassion towards our friends, neighbors, people in need. Instead, we need to put the God first. Love first.
“爱父母过于爱我的，不配作我的门徒；爱儿女过于爱我的，不配作我的门徒； 不背着他的十字架跟从我的，也不配作我的门徒。 得着生命的，将要失丧生命；为我失丧生命的，将要得着生命。”( 马太福音 10:37-39 )
What does it mean to love God and put him first? If we do not see God in our daily lives, do not hear him, how can we love him? Where can we find God?
It's probably more difficult to understand our God from Old Testament, where His care for us was often perceived as a meaningless set of strict rules and restrictions. But Jesus came down to Earth to show us the true image of our Father, our God.
你们若认识我，也就认识我的父。从今以后，你们认识他，并且已经看见他。”( 约翰福音 14:7 )
Therefore, to understand who God is, we need to learn more about Jesus Christ, his story and his story in the New Testament.
What does it mean to love God?
＜应许赐圣灵＞ “你们若爱我，就必遵守我的命令。( 约翰福音 14:15 )
And the same thing Jesus did himself. To show the world that he loves the Father, he died on the cross, for Father had asked him to do so.
但要叫世人知道我爱父，并且父怎样吩咐我，我就怎样行。起来，我们走吧！”( 约翰福音 14:31 )
Let's show our love to Jesus who came down to represent God on Earth. Let's study his works to understand the true meaning of love. And the result of such love would be obeying his commandments.
＜ 神就是爱＞ 亲爱的弟兄啊，我们应当彼此相爱，因为爱是从 神来的。凡有爱心的，都是由 神而生，并且认识 神。( 约翰一书 4:7 )
2. Do not bow down to an image of anything
“不可为自己雕刻偶像，也不可做什么形像仿佛上天、下地，和地底下、水中的百物。 不可跪拜那些像，也不可事奉它，因为我耶和华──你的 神是忌邪的 神。恨我的，我必追讨他的罪，自父及子，直到三四代； 爱我、守我诫命的，我必向他们发慈爱，直到千代。( 出埃及记 20:4-6 )
It's very hard to resist the temptation to worship something we see with our own eyes. Apart from making images of idols, we like to bow before the pictures of saints, kiss a painting of Jesus Christ and his mother Maria. And that leads us to a false view of who God is… Our God is not that picture in the church that can get burned or stolen. God is not a Bible, or Torah, or Quran or any other book or a scripture.
If we put our love, faith and hope into an image of something, with that image gone our hope will die. We forget that nobody has ever seen God. Nobody knows what Jesus Christ looked like. If the physical appearance of Jesus is that important, wouldn't God deliver a detailed description of him in the Bible?...
In real life Jesus unlikely looked like anything we've seen on any images of him. For his appearance was of nothing remarkable… Jesus is not meant to be recognized and remembered for his external appearance. Here is the description of the coming Messiah from the prophet Isaiah.
他在耶和华面前生长如嫩芽，像根出于干地。他无佳形美容；我们看见他的时候，也无美貌使我们羡慕他。( 以赛亚书 53:2 )
God does not want us to worship any images of anything. Instead, he wants us to know that God is love, and God can abide within us. We do not need any things to have or images to see in order to talk to him and to be with him. Poor and rich, healthy and disabled people - all have equal access to God.
没有爱心的，就不认识 神，因为 神就是爱。( 约翰一书 4:8 )
神爱我们的心，我们也知道也信。 神就是爱；住在爱里面的，就是住在 神里面， 神也住在他里面。( 约翰一书 4:16 )
We invite God to be with us forever, and nothing can separate us from him.
3. Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God
“不可妄称耶和华──你 神的名；因为妄称耶和华名的，耶和华必不以他为无罪。( 出埃及记 20:7 )
The "name" in this context means the image and reputation. It's very easy to misinterpret and misunderstand the Lord our God. If we keep hearing "I swear by God…" or "Oh my God, this is…", "God did this with me…", "God is a lie from a fairy tales" or misusing God's name ourselves, even just saying without meaning it, we lose the meaning of sacred and powerful God. And with that we'll lose the hopes of finding Him.
不可指着我的名起假誓，亵渎你 神的名。我是耶和华。( 利未记 19:12 )
万军之耶和华说：我必使这书卷出去，进入偷窃人的家和指我名起假誓人的家，必常在他家里，连房屋带木石都毁灭了。”( 撒迦利亚书 5:4 )
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy
What do we know about Sabbath in the bible?
又将我的安息日赐给他们，好在我与他们中间为证据，使他们知道我──耶和华是叫他们成为圣的。( 以西结书 20:12 )
也不要在安息日从家中担出担子去。无论何工都不可做，只要以安息日为圣日，正如我所吩咐你们列祖的。’ 他们却不听从，不侧耳而听，竟硬着颈项不听，不受教训。” 耶和华说：“你们若留意听从我，在安息日不担什么担子进入这城的各门，只以安息日为圣日，在那日无论何工都不做；( 耶利米书 17:22-24 )
And this.
＜守安息日的报赏＞ 你若在安息日掉转｛或译：谨慎｝你的脚步，在我圣日不以操作为喜乐，称安息日为可喜乐的，称耶和华的圣日为可尊重的；而且尊敬这日，不办自己的私事，不随自己的私意，不说自己的私话，( 以赛亚书 58:13 )
Sabbath was given to us to have a rest from our daily routine, to not worry about things or work to do, and to free up our head from the burden of this world… However, we’ve been certainly misusing the Sabbath for thousands of years… The commandment that supposed to help us unload our burdens from our minds and clear up the pathway to God was used by people as a way to punish others.
文士和法利赛人窥探耶稣，在安息日治病不治病，要得把柄去告他。( 路加福音 6:7 )
As mentioned above, this is not a day on which we are looking for benefits for ourselves or our business. And what to do when someone needs our help on a day when you can't work?
耶稣对他们说：“我问你们，在安息日行善行恶，救命害命，哪样是可以的呢？”( 路加福音 6:9 )
他就周围看着他们众人，对那人说：“伸出手来！”他把手一伸，手就复了原。( 路加福音 6:10 )
Let us keep Saturdays a day in which we will not work or seek any benefit for ourselves. But even on Saturday we will not shy away from work if it helps someone else.
5. Honor your father and mother
As we grow older, parent’s role and share in our life gets smaller. Now that we've grown older, we better understand now that our parents were actually right when they taught us something, yet it takes us years of age difference between them and us to understand that. And now as they get older, it’s get harder for them to walk, sleep, and even breathe, and the laughter of their kids that they loved to hear, moved away from their house alone with the kids. And we are still years behind to understand their sorrow.
God loves us, but he also loves our parents, and wants them to do well. So let us help him, and give a little love to those who generously gave us their love, and help them at least a little brighten up their old age, which we will soon meet ourselves.
人若不看顾亲属，就是背了真道，比不信的人还不好，不看顾自己家里的人，更是如此。( 提摩太前书 5:8 )
6. You shall not murder
There is not much we can add to this, except that we should not murder not just physically, but spiritually as well. Instead, we need to love our neighbors, as well as our enemies, encourage them and help them succeed.
7. You shall not commit adultery
Here we quote Jesus himself.
＜论奸淫＞ “你们听见有话说：‘不可奸淫。’ 只是我告诉你们，凡看见妇女就动淫念的，这人心里已经与她犯奸淫了。 若是你的右眼叫你跌倒，就剜出来丢掉，宁可失去百体中的一体，不叫全身丢在地狱里。 若是右手叫你跌倒，就砍下来丢掉，宁可失去百体中的一体，不叫全身下入地狱。”( 马太福音 5:27-30 )
And from apostle Paul.
神的旨意就是要你们成为圣洁，远避淫行； 要你们各人晓得怎样用圣洁、尊贵守着自己的身体， 不放纵私欲的邪情，像那不认识 神的外邦人。 不要一个人在这事上越分，欺负他的弟兄；因为这一类的事，主必报应，正如我预先对你们说过、又切切嘱咐你们的。( 帖撒罗尼迦前书 4:3-6 )
8. You shall not steal
Do not steal any things. Do not steal a boyfriend or a girlfriend. Do not steal any right for freedom, for the place under the sky…
Do not delay payment to the one you hired.
“不可欺压你的邻舍，也不可抢夺他的物。雇工人的工价，不可在你那里过夜，留到早晨。( 利未记 19:13 )
And remember.
不义之财毫无益处；惟有公义能救人脱离死亡。( 箴言 10:2 )
偷窃的、贪婪的、醉酒的、辱骂的、勒索的，都不能承受 神的国。( 哥林多前书 6:10 )
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor
Or, in short, do not lie… It may happen when we think that someone obviously did something wrong, and we add to our words more than we have actually seen or heard, ruining someone's life. God warns us about that.
作假见证陷害邻舍的，就是大槌，是利刀，是快箭。( 箴言 25:18 )
作假见证的，不免受罚；吐出谎言的，也必灭亡。( 箴言 19:9 )
＜新生活的守则＞ 所以，你们要弃绝谎言，各人与邻舍说实话，因为我们是互相为肢体。( 以弗所书 4:25 )
＜正义和公道＞ “不可随伙布散谣言；不可与恶人连手妄作见证。( 出埃及记 23:1 )
10. You shall love your neighbor as yourself
From old testament we see a simplistic view of this commandment.
“不可贪恋人的房屋；也不可贪恋人的妻子、仆婢、牛驴，并他一切所有的。”( 出埃及记 20:17 )
不可报仇，也不可埋怨你本国的子民，却要爱人如己。我是耶和华。( 利未记 19:18 )
Yet, as we already know from Jesus, this commandment is the foundation of the law, which is also reminded by Paul.
因为全律法都包在“爱人如己”这一句话之内了。( 加拉太书 5:14 )
It's hard to overestimate this commandment. And at the same time it's hard to fulfill it. Let's be mindful to those around us. Do not turn away from those who need help. It's a blessing to be able to help others in need.
It's natural to us to look at the riches of this world. The news of this world are focused on successful, rich people, stocks & markets… Following them brings us anxiety, envy, impatience, and dries us out. And it's not where our neighbors are. Our neighbors are not in the news. They are often the poor ones who are truly grateful for the food they get, for they do not get a lot of it. They thank God for an extra day of life for their dying child. They praise God for a new friend they get, for people often avoid them. They get happy from a single word of encouragement, for they do not get much of them in prison where some of them are. For our God is with these people, as well as those who care about those around them.
怜悯贫穷的，就是借给耶和华；他的善行，耶和华必偿还。( 箴言 19:17 )
Helping our neighbors in need is what fills the emptiness inside of us. And that is what makes us closer to God.
Let's look around. We'll see co-workers, family members, our neighbors, poor people on streets. If we help these people around us, we help God.
因为我饿了，你们给我吃，渴了，你们给我喝；我作客旅，你们留我住； 我赤身露体，你们给我穿；我病了，你们看顾我；我在监里，你们来看我。’ 义人就回答说：‘主啊，我们什么时候见你饿了，给你吃，渴了，给你喝？ 什么时候见你作客旅，留你住，或是赤身露体，给你穿？ 又什么时候见你病了，或是在监里，来看你呢？’ 王要回答说：‘我实在告诉你们，这些事你们既做在我这弟兄中一个最小的身上，就是做在我身上了。’( 马太福音 25:35-40 )
所以，无论何事，你们愿意人怎样待你们，你们也要怎样待人，因为这就是律法和先知的道理。”( 马太福音 7:12 )
＜论爱仇敌（太 5:38-48；7:12）＞ “只是我告诉你们这听道的人，你们的仇敌，要爱他！恨你们的，要待他好！( 路加福音 6:27 )
These are the 10 commandments, the ten simple instructions that God gave us long time ago. They are given to us from the one who loves and cares for us. The 10 commandments is a good start for us to start following now and to get a deeper understanding of who Christ is, who showed us the true meaning of the law and the sinless life.
We highly recommend reading the Gospel from Bible covering the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and his Earthly life.
And below there are some quotes from both Old and New testaments that can help us tune up our lives further.
凡越过基督的教训不常守着的，就没有 神；常守这教训的，就有父又有子。( 约翰二书 1:9 )
你们既作顺命的儿女，就不要效法从前蒙昧无知的时候那放纵私欲的样子。 那召你们的既是圣洁，你们在一切所行的事上也要圣洁。( 彼得前书 1:14-15 )
又要立志作安静人，办自己的事，亲手做工，正如我们从前所吩咐你们的， 叫你们可以向外人行事端正，自己也就没有什么缺乏了。( 帖撒罗尼迦前书 4:11-12 )
One of the most difficult things to do is to understand what our wealth is really for…
众民所劳碌得来的被火焚烧，列国由劳乏而得的归于虚空，不都是出于万军之耶和华吗？ 认识耶和华荣耀的知识要充满遍地，好像水充满洋海一般。( 哈巴谷书 2:13-14 )
因为我们没有带什么到世上来，也不能带什么去。 只要有衣有食，就当知足。 但那些想要发财的人，就陷在迷惑、落在网罗和许多无知有害的私欲里，叫人沉在败坏和灭亡中。 贪财是万恶之根。有人贪恋钱财，就被引诱离了真道，用许多愁苦把自己刺透了。( 提摩太前书 6:7-10 )
Be humble and don't think highly of yourself.
不要在王面前妄自尊大；不要在大人的位上站立。 宁可有人说：请你上来，强如在你觐见的王子面前叫你退下。( 箴言 25:6-7 )
吃蜜过多是不好的；考究自己的荣耀也是可厌的。( 箴言 25:27 )
“人子啊，葡萄树比别样树有什么强处？葡萄枝比众树枝有什么好处？ 其上可以取木料做什么工用，可以取来做钉子挂什么器皿吗？ 看哪，已经抛在火中当作柴烧，火既烧了两头，中间也被烧了，还有益于工用吗？ 完全的时候尚且不合乎什么工用，何况被火烧坏，还能合乎什么工用吗？”( 以西结书 15:2-5 )
但他赐更多的恩典，所以经上说： 神阻挡骄傲的人，赐恩给谦卑的人。 故此，你们要顺服 神。务要抵挡魔鬼，魔鬼就必离开你们逃跑了。 你们亲近 神， 神就必亲近你们。有罪的人哪，要洁净你们的手！心怀二意的人哪，要清洁你们的心！( 雅各书 4:6-8 )
我们又劝弟兄们，要警戒不守规矩的人，勉励灰心的人，扶助软弱的人，也要向众人忍耐。 你们要谨慎，无论是谁都不可以恶报恶；或是彼此相待，或是待众人，常要追求良善。 凡事谢恩；因为这是 神在基督耶稣里向你们所定的旨意。( 帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:14,15,18 )
弟兄们，你们行善不可丧志。( 帖撒罗尼迦后书 3:13 )
耶和华所恨恶的有六样，连他心所憎恶的共有七样： 就是高傲的眼，撒谎的舌，流无辜人血的手， 图谋恶计的心，飞跑行恶的脚， 吐谎言的假见证，并弟兄中布散纷争的人。( 箴言 6:16-19 )
＜论心里的光（路 11:34-36）＞ “眼睛就是身上的灯。你的眼睛若了亮，全身就光明；( 马太福音 6:22 )
因为时候要到，人必厌烦纯正的道理，耳朵发痒，就随从自己的情欲增添好些师傅，( 提摩太后书 4:3 )
要远避无知的辩论和家谱的空谈，以及纷争，并因律法而起的争竞，因为这都是虚妄无益的。( 提多书 3:9 )
不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化，叫你们察验何为 神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。( 罗马书 12:2 )
正因这缘故，你们要分外地殷勤；有了信心，又要加上德行；有了德行，又要加上知识； 有了知识，又要加上节制；有了节制，又要加上忍耐；有了忍耐，又要加上虔敬； 有了虔敬，又要加上爱弟兄的心；有了爱弟兄的心，又要加上爱众人的心。( 彼得后书 1:5-7 )
不要爱世界和世界上的事。人若爱世界，爱父的心就不在他里面了。 因为，凡世界上的事，就像肉体的情欲、眼目的情欲，并今生的骄傲，都不是从父来的，乃是从世界来的。 这世界和其上的情欲都要过去，惟独遵行 神旨意的，是永远常存。( 约翰一书 2:15-17 )
And remember, whatever you do, do it with God in your hearts.
＜称颂 神的良善＞ ＜所罗门上行之诗。＞ 若不是耶和华建造房屋，建造的人就枉然劳力；若不是耶和华看守城池，看守的人就枉然警醒。 你们清晨早起，夜晚安歇，吃劳碌得来的饭，本是枉然；惟有耶和华所亲爱的，必叫他安然睡觉。( 诗篇 127:1-2 )