Rhythm
For centuries, the Ten Commandments have stood as pillars of life for many, many people - Jew and Christian alike. There is something very fundamental about these guidelines, for anyone desiring to lead a moral life under the guidance of God. In fact, I frequently use this analogy when it comes to how we can live the best life possible: Let’s say you have just purchased a new electronic appliance - maybe a new multi-disk DVD/CD player. If you want to get the most out of it - proper functioning, full use of available features, etc - you really should read and follow the instruction manual provided by the manufacturer. Sure, you could get the thing to turn on and operate if you skip the manual and get right to it. However, you will most likely miss some key features, and may well run into some frustrating problems. Reading the manual just makes sense. Follow the guidelines of the one who created the equipment, and you will get the best possible functioning. The same is true for our lives. Our Creator (God) has provided us with an instruction manual (the Bible) to teach us how to get the most out of our lives. In fact, Jesus repeatedly says he came to give us life to the full, or the abundant life.
“Okay,” you may be saying to yourself, “that’s all fine and good, but what does it have to do with the title of this post - ‘Rhythm’?” Here is my point. I’m not writing this post to convince you to read the Bible as your guideline for living, although I wholeheartedly believe we all should do so for the best life possible. Instead, I want to raise a question and a concern. For those of us who still hold up the Ten Commandments as basic guidelines for life, why do we completely ignore one of them?!? (more…)