When one’s expectations are spelt out clearly, relationship is easily maintained. The Ten Commandments help us understand what God expects from us so that our relationship with Him can be smooth and strong. Analyzing them carefully and applying them in our life will be an enriching experience.

III Commandment: You shall not misuse the name of the Lord (Exodus 20:7)
IV Commandment: Remember the Sabbath day (Exodus 20:8)
V Commandment: Honour your father and mother (Exodus 20:12)

God’s name indicates holiness, truth and love. The attributes of God cannot be separated from His name. So while we call ourselves His children and pray in His name, if we do not practice holiness and show love in our life, we will be misusing the name of the Lord. If our actions are contrary to the faith that we profess, God’s name is misused. We are called to a life of holiness. Misusing the name is misrepresenting the person. Somebody can use our name to get some favours from some quarters. If the intention is good and if the mission is good, our name will not be misused. But when the mission is dubious, our name can be deplorably misused. Similarly, when our mission and goal in life are not in line with the will and purpose of God, if we continue to use His name, don’t we misuse His Name? His name must be glorified through our life and words.

After six days of hard labour we need to take a day off to remember the mercy of God. That day should be a day when we recall God’s kindness in the six days that have gone by and glorify Him for all that He had done. It does rejuvenate us and makes us fit for another week of toil. A life lived like a race does not bring in peace and joy. We need to be still in the presence of God in order to refresh ourselves.

Sabbath day is a boon to us when can be still in the presence of God, refreshing ourselves. Hence, keeping the Sabbath holy refreshes us physically, and spiritually and makes us competent to face the toils of the next week. Rest is called ‘Well – earned’ rest. So only when we work on all days, we are eligible to enjoy the Sabbath.

Honouring parents is very essential in a person’s life. Failure to take care of them is like forgetting the source of our existence. It also means honouring the life pattern of our ancestors, their faith and trust in God, starting from Abraham. It also means honouring our spiritual parents. Paul says in I Corint 4:15 that he became their father in Christ, through the gospel. There is human authority to be honoured. “Give to Caesar what is Caesars” (Mat 22:21). Yes, rebellion and disobedience should not disturb the code of proper behaviour in the life of a believer. If one calls himself a child of God and yet defies authority and refuses to follow the rules and regulations, his claim to be a child of God cannot be believed. When people honour the elders and superiors everything will go well in the family and society. When elders are honoured in a family, tension and stress gets reduced, harmony prevails and in that atmosphere much is achieved. Constructive work goes on. Satan’s attempt to destroy and demolish is defeated. A society which is made up of such small family units is blessed. Disintegration takes place in societies where such peace is not present. Individuals who live in such societies also experience the consequent disturbance. Hence, honouring the elders and parents has far reaching results and leads to the well being of a whole society.