Broken Commandments

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Leaning against a fence post near the lane by the side of the road, . . .

. . . was a broken plaque of the Ten Commandments.

I assume that the rest of the plaque was there at one time, but perhaps a very wise person put the plaque there just as it was when I saw it. I think that in this instance I learned more from seeing it broken than I would have if it had been whole. I have seen many copies of the Ten Commandments, including (when I was a little girl) a bracelet with one charm for each commandment.

However, this is the first time I remember seeing a broken image of the Ten Commandments. Our Father sees lots of broken commandments — but they’re not on a plaque, but in the lives of His children. I have long cherished this passage that gives us complete hope when we see broken commandments in ourselves.

If we say that we have no sin,
we are deceiving ourselves
and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and righteous
to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned,
we make Him a liar
and His word is not in us.
My little children,
I am writing these things to you
so that you may not sin.
And if anyone sins,
we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous;
and He Himself is the propitiation
for our sins;
and not for ours only,
but also for those
of the whole world.
1 John 1:8-2:2

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