The Law of Life

The Lord God knows the waywardness of the human heart. He knows that we need to be guided along the journey of our earthly life. He sets before us rules of life, that we might walk in his ways, and so be brought safely to the end of our journey. His law is not a burden, but a delight. For it is the law of love, and it brings with it the promise of eternal life.

• You shall worship the one true God who is Lord of heaven and earth.
  
  He is your Father. He created you for himself, to love you and hold you close to his heart for all eternity. You belong to him. You must not set your heart on any other love, for no love can fulfill you unless it comes from God who is the source of love.
  
  
• You shall revere the name of God, for his name is holy.
  
  Everything that comes from the hand of God is a blessing to be received in thankfulness. You must accept from God the portion you are given. It is enough for you. It is given for your good, and if you accept it in faith, it will bring you happiness. When you call upon the name of God, it must be as a blessing and not as a curse.
  
  
• You shall keep holy the day of the Lord.
  
  Every day is a gift from God. It is an opportunity for you to grow in love. You must make the most of this day, for God may not give you another. You must find God in the events of today. You must make today holy, for like every day, it is a day of the Lord.
  
  
• You shall honor those who have nurtured you.
  
  You have your place in the world because others have cared for you. When God called you into life, he entrusted you to a human family. If you know anything of love, it is because others have loved you. Their love is a covenant, which is to last throughout your life. You must hold in honor those who love you, for they do so on God's behalf.
  
  
• You shall respect life as God's most precious gift.
  
  All life belongs to God. You must not judge any life expendable. Though you may not see the good in another, he is precious in the sight of God. You must uphold life at all times, and defend it against any who would destroy it.
  
  
• You shall honor the commitment of man and woman to fidelity in marriage.
  
  The bond of marriage is a sacred trust. Those who are called to marriage journey together on the way to eternal life. You must be faithful to your own commitment, no matter how difficult the journey. And you must respect the commitments of others, for they too have made a covenant before God.
  
  
• You shall hold inviolate the property of others.
  
  What each one possesses is not truly his own, but is given in trust by God who is Lord of all creation. You must be a good steward over what God has given you. You must use the goods of the earth wisely, and share with those in need. You must not take what rightly belongs to another, for you do not know how he has labored for it, or how he will give account to God for his affairs.
  
  
• You shall speak the truth in all circumstances.
  
  You are not the master of truth, but its servant. You must not fashion your own truth, but bear faithful witness to the truth that comes from God. You must not use words to harm another, for you do not know the whole of things. You must not judge another, but leave judgment to God who alone knows the heart.
  
  
• You shall cherish your loved ones with an undivided heart.
  
  God reserves the love of one for another according to his will. You must not desire what is not yours to possess, for we all belong to God. You must learn to love those whom God has given you, for only in loving them will you be prepared to receive God's own love in eternity.
  
  
• You shall accept in gratitude the portion God gives you, and regard without envy what is given to others.
  
  God sets you on a journey in your earthly life. You dwell on the earth only for a while; your true home is in heaven. You must not become attached to the things of this earth, neither your own possessions nor what belongs to others. You must journey unencumbered on the way to God. He provides everything you need for your journey. You must not turn aside in search of earthly things, lest you fail to reach your journey's end in heaven.