We Crave Rules
Human nature’s intriguing, but we’re our own worst enemy when we entertain it. Making things more difficult than need be, we crave rules, believing peace is found by sticking to them. Rules make us comfortable by giving an outline of expectations. In them, however, lays division that robs us of peace. The comfort of rules disrupts faith!
When God introduced law through Moses, direction and hope for peace was felt. However, ultimately it wasn’t realized. Jesus’ birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection were purposed to free us from law, and yet we hunger for it still. We’ve taken the freedom His act of forgiveness intended and created more rules. We’ve turned the New Testament into another book of law. Christ declared a new covenant of love and forgiveness. He alters perceived reality by sending a helper, His Holy Spirit, the living Spirit of God, to be in His people and fulfill law. This indwelling of the mighty Spirit of God turns our earthen vessels into jars of living water, and we’re able to be fed and led by Christ, the living Word.
Rules Meant to Bring Peace Bring Division
By spreading His people all over the land and then filling them with His Spirit, God has made Himself present and moving here on earth. He’s able to reach into destruction, touch those in need, fill tormented people with peace, and transform His nation. He does this by changing His children from the inside out. Rules that were meant to bring peace only brought division. Christ’s sacrifice has secured a freedom which imparts true peace. However, the route is the opposite of what our human nature craves. It comes through faith in and relationship with Christ, rather than human effort and work.
Following Rules is a Continued Need
Our continued need to follow rules can’t in any way disrupt God’s ultimate plan. However, it disrupts our ability to experience true love, peace, and joy. These are qualities only found in God. In order for us to experience them we must become one with Him. This happens when we focus on, grow in a relationship with, and fall in love with Him. It happens when he fills us, making us born again. Becoming so close to our Lord that we hunger for Him constantly, we easily accept His guidance and will for our lives and trustingly follow where He leads. This obedience doesn’t happen by studying a list of dos and don’ts and working hard to apply them. Failure results when we strive, in our human nature, to achieve that which are simply traits of Christ.
Let go of rules and embrace the freedom that came from the sacrifice of Christ.
“Ye must be born again,” isn’t a command to apply, it’s a fact, but no one can make themselves born again. God does that. “If you love me you will obey my commands,” isn’t a call to work harder at following rules, it’s what happens when He’s the center of your life. “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom,” isn’t a challenge to prove to people that you understand God’s ways, it’s what’s seen by God when Christ is living within you.
Human Nature Craves Rules
Our human nature craves rules. We can’t understand that the truth is the opposite of what’s naturally seen. We study, seeking wisdom and direction, rather than seeking that wisdom from the very Creator Himself. In the process, we’ve turned back to law for comfort and direction. Christ said, “It is finished.” Satan’s power is no longer an issue. He may be able to confuse and frustrate us, but he has no authority. The children of God shouldn’t struggle with expectations or feel like they must display an image of Christianity. The very rules we try to obey have become our stumbling blocks, because we can’t, in our own power, succeed in achieving them.
Stop Striving, Studying, and Applying Rules
Stop striving, studying, and applying. Simply talk to Jesus. Give Him full rein and authority in your life. Ask Him to be your Lord and Savior. Should you become filled with His Spirit, you’ll be born again. This doesn’t happen by human effort. God draws us to His Son and the Son Who freed us sends the Holy Spirit Who intimately connects us with God. It’s a circle that’s completed only by God. Given the power felt in His presence and the freedom, peace, love, and joy experienced in relationship with the Almighty, don’t let faith be disrupted by the comfort of rules.