Saturday, April 18, 2020
The Law, Greater than an Empty Hand
Jeremiah 8:7
Even the stork in the heavens knows its times; and the turtle-dove, swallow, and crane observe the time of their coming; but my people do not know the ordinance of the Lord.
Romans 2:14
When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves.
Words of Grace For Today
Today all to often sinful people (like us) rationalize anything and everything, as if truth, goodness, purity, and obedience were all relative or in the eye of the beholder or fully dependent on one’s perspective.
Quatsch!
Absolute reality does exist, and those who pretend that they can change reality so that they get to take control and rule over others, are only working out the Devil’s own way.
The ordinances, the Law of God, given in the Old Testament, were not equivocal. Generations spent countless hours interpreting, applying and writing guides to them, but that never changed the Law given by God. Reality is reality. God is God. Law is Law.
Do not murder. Do no commit adultery. Do not steal. Do bear false witness. Do not covet.
These are not complicated, yet a life long challenge to obey.
Jesus’ command is simpler: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and strength! Love your neighbour as yourself, and your enemy.
Jesus’ command is a greater challenge to obey, for instead of proscribing destructive behaviour, Jesus prescribes life-giving behaviour. Jesus’ command impacts everything we think, say and do!
Of course one does not need to hear Jesus’ commands to be able to love God and all people.
On the other hand just because we are baptized hardly means that we will love God and all people. So we need to hear the command again and again, so that we remember what the Holy Spirit equips us to be able and ready to do, each and every day of our lives.
None of us are above God’s law, or above Jesus’ command to love God and all people.
Following the law perfectly is impossible. We remain sinners who break it constantly, but that does not mean that we can pretend the Law does not exist, that we will not break it, and that we are not condemned for those breaches. We are only saved by Grace. That we are saved by Grace alone inspires us to forgive others as we are forgiven.
What a beautiful world that makes, for we are in it, together.