DAY 1 – APRIL 12
“BACK TO BASICS” (a study of the Ten Commandments)
TITLE: “AND GOD SPOKE”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “And God spoke all these words:” Exodus 20:1
The source of our information can determine the value and dependability of that information. With the popularity of the internet, there is now a lot of information that can be discovered through the computer in just a few moments. However, that does not mean that the information on a particular site on the internet is trustworthy. Just because someone says something, does not mean it is true. In all settings, it is helpful and wise to know the source of what we hear and choose to believe so we know the information we have received is credible.
The opening words of Exodus 20 establish the credibility of what is about to be proclaimed. God is the source of the instructions given. Moses is not the source of the Ten Commandments. The church is not the source or writer of the Ten Commandments. These words given are from God, who is the source of the Ten Commandments. God Himself is the One who has given us these guidelines for living. The focus of this opening verse is that these commandments are words of revelation from God.
God is not silent. God is a God who spoke and continues to speak through His word. God spoke and speaks today through His word because He has something to say that we need to hear. The Words of God were not given to be ignored, but to be heard and obeyed. We need the commandments of God. Because it is God speaking, we must listen.
Author, James Hamilton writes, “Before refrigerators, people used ice houses to preserve their food. Ice houses had thick walls, no windows, and a tightly fitted door. In winter, when streams and lakes were frozen, large blocks of ice were cut, hauled to the ice houses, and covered with sawdust. Often the ice would last well into the summer.”
One man lost a valuable pocket watch while working in an ice house. He searched diligently for it, carefully raking through the sawdust, but didn’t find it. His fellow workers also looked, but their efforts, too, proved futile. A small boy, who heard about the fruitless search, slipped into the ice house during the noon hour and soon emerged with the watch. Amazed, the men asked him how he found it. “I closed the door,” the boy replied, “lay down in the sawdust, and kept very still. Soon, I heard the watch ticking.”
God is the God who speaks. Take time today to be quiet and listen to His Word. Listen carefully with a heart to hear and obey.
DAY 2 –APRIL 13
“BACK TO BASICS” (a study of the Ten Commandments)
TITLE: “I AM”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “I am the
Lord your God, who brought you out of
God is the great “I Am.” God has never been and will never be less than all that God really is. When Moses had his encounter with God at the burning bush, God instructed Moses to inform the Israelites of His name. “God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I Am has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14
God is the great I Am. God is the living God who is all-powerful. God is the
One who is all-sufficient. God is all that we need. Author, C.S. Lewis wrote,
“He who has God and many other things has no more than he who has God alone.”
God is the all-sufficient God who sent His Son, Jesus to be our all-sufficient Savior and Lord. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” John 6:35. Jesus said, “I am from above.” John 8:23. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” John 9:5. Jesus said, “I am the gate for the sheep” John 10:7. Jesus said, “I am God’s Son.” John 10:36. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” John 11:25. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:6. Jesus said, “I am the true vine.” John 15:1. Jesus said, “I am the Alpha and Omega.” Revelation 1:8. Jesus said, “I am the First and the Last.” Revelation 1:17. Jesus is the one “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8. The Lord is all that we need.
“When I am burdened,
or weary and sad, Jesus is all I need.
Never He fails to uplift and make glad. Jesus is all I need.
All that I need He
will always be, All that I need till His face I see,
All that I need thro’
eternity, Jesus is all I need.
When I am tempted and
fear I may fall, Jesus is all I need.
He never fails to
respond to my call. Jesus is all I need.
When I am swept by the
tempests of life, Jesus is all I need.
Peace he imparts,
whatsoever the strife. Jesus is all I need.
When thro’ the valley
He calls me to go, Jesus is all I’ll need.
He will be with me to
cheer me, I know. Jesus is all I’ll
need.”
All that I need He
will always be, All that I need till His face I see,
All that I need thro’ eternity, Jesus is all I
need.
(James Rowe)
DAY 3 – APRIL 14
“BACK TO BASICS” (a study of the Ten Commandments)
TITLE: “HE BROUGHT ME OUT”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “I am the
Lord your God, who brought you out of
My heart was distressed ’neath Jehovah’s dread frown,
And low in the pit where my sins dragged me down;
I cried to the Lord from the deep miry clay,
Who tenderly brought me out to golden day.
He brought me out of
the miry clay,
He set my feet on the
Rock to stay;
He puts a song in my soul today,
A song of praise,
hallelujah!
He placed me upon the strong Rock by His side,
My steps were established and here I’ll abide;
No danger of falling while here I remain,
But stand by His grace until the crown I gain.
He gave me a song, ’twas a new song of
praise;
By day and by night its sweet notes I will raise;
My heart’s overflowing, I’m happy and free.
I’ll praise my Redeemer, who has rescued me.
I’ll sing of His wonderful mercy to
me,
I’ll praise Him till all men His goodness shall see;
I’ll sing of salvation at home and abroad,
Till many shall hear the truth and trust in God.
He brought me out of
the miry clay,
He set my feet on the
Rock to stay;
He puts a song in my soul today.
A song of praise, hallelujah! (Henry J. Zelley
& Henry L. Gilmour)
DAY 4 – APRIL 15
“BACK TO BASICS” (a study of the Ten Commandments)
TITLE: “THE
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “I am the
Lord your God, who brought you out of
The word Exodus means
‘to be called out of’. This name is used
to designate the great calling out of God's people from slavery in
As we looked at yesterday, God is the God who brought the
people out of
The book of I Peter calls us to live holy lives and be holy in all we do. This is possible because of our relationship with a Holy God. Peter reminds us of who we are and what God has done for us. He wrote, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” I Peter 2:9-10. We are freed from the land of slavery to sin and bondage through His wonderful mercy.
Through Christ we are free to live for God. Paul wrote, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1. Live in the freedom God has provided you through His power and mercy today. You need not live in the land of slavery.
Are you in bondage to some habit today? The Lord has the power to set you free. Are you in bondage to a hurt of the past? The Lord has the power to set you free. Are you in bondage to some sin today? The Lord has the power to set you free.
DAY 5 – APRIL 16
“BACK TO BASICS” (a study of the Ten Commandments)
TITLE: “NO OTHER GODS”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3
Life is filled with choices. You make them every day. The choices we make result in the life we live. This first commandment makes it clear that our relationship with God is our responsibility. It is my responsibility not to put anything or anyone before God. He calls us to choose every moment of every day of life to serve one God. Each day, we are to have no other god in addition to God or on the same level as God. Each day, the Lord is to be our priority.
Jesus instructed, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33. We put God first because we know that we can trust Him. Yes, you can trust God today. Your privilege and responsibility is to put God first. God must be in first place. He must be the conductor of the orchestra of our lives. When God is in the proper place in our lives, everything else seems to fall into place.
One of the great Old Testament examples of this commandment
is Joshua. When this leader stood before the people towards the end of his
life, he gave them this word of instruction. He said, “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness Throw away the
gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in
My favorite part of this story of Joshua is when he tells the people his choice. Joshua said, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24: 15. Joshua did not let anyone else choose for him. He made his choice clear and refused to be influenced by the choices of others. Is your choice clear? “You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3