Many professing Christians often set God’s commands against His grace. We hear it in statements like, “Christianity isn’t about following rules; it’s about a relationship.” Or when we cry legalism whenever someone mentions we must obey God’s law. It seems some of us have forgotten that keeping God’s commandments is how we love Him (John 14:15). That His rules are means of grace to nurture our relationship with Him.
To remedy this problem, Jen Wilkin, a lifelong advocate of biblical literacy and author of the bestselling book Women of the Word, wrote Ten Words to Live By: Delighting in and Doing What God Commands.
In this book, Wilkin takes us back to Mount Sinai, when God gave the Israelites ten commandments to observe. She explores the meaning of these commandments and how they apply to Christians regarding our relationship with God and others.
She says, “Christianity is about a relationship with God and others, and because this statement is true, Christianity is also unapologetically about rules, for rules show us how to live in those relationships. Rather than threaten relationship, rules enable it…Without rules, our hopes of a healthy relationship vanish in short order. Jesus did not pit rules against relationship. It was he who said, ‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments.’”
Wilkin does not promote obeying God for gaining His favor or love, but obeying Him because we love Him and already have His favor. She says, “There are good work to be done by the people of God, not out of dread to earn His favor, but out of delight because we already have it.” She wrote this book so readers can “delight in them [Ten words], see beauty in them, seek encouragement from them, and live by them.”
The book is short, with ten chapters that each examine one of the ten commandments. Every chapter also features Bible verses for further meditation, questions for reflections, and a prayer prompt.
Wilkin does an excellent job explaining the ten commandments. Her explanations are profound, easy to understand, and full of practical illustrations. She shares many insights about the ten commandments I did not know before. For instance, she says, we must not make images of God because we ourselves bear the image of God. I had never considered the connection between the second commandment and Genesis 1:27, and learning it was fascinating.
Furthermore, Wilkin illustrates several ways we can violate the letter and spirit of the commandments. For example, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain,” she lists inconsistency, misattribution, lip service, and informality as examples of breaking this law.
Even with apparent commandments, as thou shall not steal, murder, and commit adultery, Wilkin provides a wealth of insights. She goes to the root of these commandments and shows how we can break the spirit, even if we keep the letter.
I also love that Wilkin explains each commandment’s relation to the others and their overall structure. The commandments are not random but carefully ordered by a wise and omniscient God. And their goal is to help us love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, strength, and love others as ourselves.
Ten Words to Live By is a delightful book. Wilkin provides incredible perspicacity that will give you a fresh perspective of the Ten Commandments and help you honor it in your life. I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it to any Christian who wants to obey and delight in Yahweh more.
Crossway publishers graciously gave me a complimentary copy for an honest review.
