“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” (Exodus 20:2 NIV)
Since the Ten Commandments provide a vision for what a healthy life in relationship with God and with the community would look like, as opposed to the toxic life in Egypt, we could say they are describing what the Hebrew people were saved for.
This is vitally important for us. After all, we are not only saved from, we are also saved for. Saved from sin and brokenness, and saved for wholeness, healthiness, and authentic connection to God. Saved for a daily walk with Jesus and an eternity in his wonderful presence.
It turns out that saved from is like the door to a house and saved for is the vast interior of the house itself. The door is incredibly important, but only a fool would think it was the whole house. Life in Christ with God is what we are saved for. And we are saved from our sin and brokenness so that we may enter into the “whole house” of a life in God.
That said, what we are saved for follows what we are saved from. And, as the Ten Commandments begin with a restatement of who God is and what he has saved the Israelites from, it is appropriate to restate and remember what we have been saved from. This helps us remember the mercy and grace of God and keeps us rooted in profound gratitude.
So, if you were to paraphrase the verse above in order to remember God’s grace in your life, how would it read?
“I am the Lord you God, who brought you out of…”
Pause and prayerfully complete that line now. What life did God deliver you from? It need not be long, but make it personal.
Prayer: God, thank you for saving me from my sin, brokenness, and baggage. Keep me rooted in gratitude. And thank you for saving me for a daily walk with Christ, my life-giving Lord. Amen.
Guy M Williams 