For Kids · 5 min with a grown-up
God gives His people ten good rules — not to make them sad, but to show them how to love Him and love each other. We still talk about them today.
Today's Story
From the top of the smoking mountain, God spoke ten good words to His people. They are like a path that keeps you safe and close to God. Five of them are about loving God. Five are about loving people.
How to love God: “I am the Lord your God, the One who set you free. Don't put anything else first, ahead of Me. Don't bow down to statues. Treat My name as special and good. And take one day each week to rest, the way I rested when I made the world.”
How to love people: “Honor your father and your mother. Don't hurt people. Husbands and wives, keep your promises to each other. Don't take what isn't yours. Don't tell lies about other people. And don't spend your heart wishing for what others have — be thankful for what is yours.”
Ten rules. But underneath them are just two big ideas: love God, and love people.
God didn't give these rules to make life hard. He gave them the way a loving parent gives house rules — because He wanted His people to live well, and safe, and close to Him.
A Big Word
Memory Verse
Talk About It
- God's ten rules come down to two: love God and love people. What's one way you could love God today? One way you could love a person today?
- One rule says to take a day each week to rest. What does your family like to do to rest and enjoy time together?
- God gave these rules because He loves us, like good house rules. What's a rule in your house that's really there to keep you safe or happy?