February 3
Now before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. Galatians 3:23
Laws . . . rules . . . people to be accountable to . . . commandments. There is always someone in authority that we must answer to; no matter how young we are or how old we get. Rules and regulations help keep order to this world, to our lives. It seems to be human nature to resist authority to some degree though; we want to do things in our own way, in our own time, but that does not always promote an environment that is acceptable to all involved. Without some rules, there would be no order; our world would be in chaos. At the same time, living by rules only, eliminates consideration of humanity, takes away compassion, and depletes spirit. How many among us, attempt to control others with extreme "rules" or laws? There has to be a balance between doing what is right while at the same time taking into consideration the circumstances and the lives of others.
We can get hung up on staying safe by following rules or doing what we have been told to do, often misguided by people with self-assumed authority. We can get falsely hung up by being misled by mal-intentioned people we once trusted. We can be falsely lulled into believing that just because we are following all the rules we are supposed to, that with that alone we are right with God; that we have earned our place, so to speak. Before Christ taught us with His very life what commandments were the most important, people were held in the chains of the law; locked up tightly, unable to move forward, held fast in rules rather than in LOVE and COMPASSION toward EVERY LIVING THING. They were not aware of the degree of the moral limitations imposed by the burden of their laws. “Love your neighbor as yourself!” “Love one another as I have loved you!” Jesus instructed. How challenging! Isn’t it easy to love? As we all know, not always, certainly not always. But in Christ, we, who are willing have been made aware; our eyes have been opened. We people who have FAITH know that grace somehow, sometime is given to us to love as He has shown. It is up to us to believe in what His life has revealed to be the most valuable of “laws” to be learned and lived; LOVE. In Faith we are free to live as He has taught us, but do we? Do we respect EVERY LIVING THING? Do we live a life worthy of God's love?
When faced with the injustices of this world Heavenly Father, when faced with the cruelty of others behavior, help us to find love in our hearts once again.
Copyright© 2014 Kathleen A. Matson
Now before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. Galatians 3:23
Laws . . . rules . . . people to be accountable to . . . commandments. There is always someone in authority that we must answer to; no matter how young we are or how old we get. Rules and regulations help keep order to this world, to our lives. It seems to be human nature to resist authority to some degree though; we want to do things in our own way, in our own time, but that does not always promote an environment that is acceptable to all involved. Without some rules, there would be no order; our world would be in chaos. At the same time, living by rules only, eliminates consideration of humanity, takes away compassion, and depletes spirit. How many among us, attempt to control others with extreme "rules" or laws? There has to be a balance between doing what is right while at the same time taking into consideration the circumstances and the lives of others.
We can get hung up on staying safe by following rules or doing what we have been told to do, often misguided by people with self-assumed authority. We can get falsely hung up by being misled by mal-intentioned people we once trusted. We can be falsely lulled into believing that just because we are following all the rules we are supposed to, that with that alone we are right with God; that we have earned our place, so to speak. Before Christ taught us with His very life what commandments were the most important, people were held in the chains of the law; locked up tightly, unable to move forward, held fast in rules rather than in LOVE and COMPASSION toward EVERY LIVING THING. They were not aware of the degree of the moral limitations imposed by the burden of their laws. “Love your neighbor as yourself!” “Love one another as I have loved you!” Jesus instructed. How challenging! Isn’t it easy to love? As we all know, not always, certainly not always. But in Christ, we, who are willing have been made aware; our eyes have been opened. We people who have FAITH know that grace somehow, sometime is given to us to love as He has shown. It is up to us to believe in what His life has revealed to be the most valuable of “laws” to be learned and lived; LOVE. In Faith we are free to live as He has taught us, but do we? Do we respect EVERY LIVING THING? Do we live a life worthy of God's love?
When faced with the injustices of this world Heavenly Father, when faced with the cruelty of others behavior, help us to find love in our hearts once again.
Copyright© 2014 Kathleen A. Matson