It is hard enough to get two people to agree totally on any one thing but there seems to be one thing that man is universally in agreement about. We all hate rules! We do not all hate rules to the same extent. Some people hate all rules and labor under the misconception that rules cause rebellion when in reality rules only identify rebellion. Others of us are not opposed to all rules but only the rules that inconvenience us. We all know from what we have read of the Scriptures thus far that God is big on rules. So if we don't like them, why does God give us so many that are so contrary to our sinful natures?
Deuteronomy 4:5-9 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. 6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. 7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? 8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? 9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;
Rules are the golden line separating the followers of Christ from the world. God declares that the same people who despise the laws of God will recognize the wisdom of those rules when they see Christians joyfully and willingly living in accordance to them. These rules declare to the unconverted world the nearness of our God. They cannot see God living inside of us but they have no problem seeing the golden glow of God living through us as we joyfully live out God's rules. The world is also exposed to the righteousness of God through the actions of God's rules in our lives. They know the rules are not the inventions of natural men and recognize the righteousness of God in giving us these rules as they see the results of our obedience. Though things do not always turn out the way we desire, they do turn out right.
Deuteronomy 6:17-23 Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee. 18 And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, 19 To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the LORD hath spoken. 20 And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you? 21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand: 22 And the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes: 23 And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.
Rules are also the golden cord drawing our loved ones to Christ. Now in order for this to work our Christianity cannot be expended during the public meetings of the church but must follow us home and throughout our daily lives (Deuteronomy 6:7-9 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.). Like our adherence to God's rules with joy gives us opportunity to witness to the world, it also gives us the same opportunity with our family members. As they behold God living through us in our daily walk of faith they are driven to question why life is different, goals are different, and priorities are different in their homes. Many mistakenly think we can educate children into salvation, but this idea is foreign to the Scriptures. The Bible says the same thing to us no matter who we are seeking to see God convert. We are to be a light by joyfully and willingly living out our faith in obedience to God's golden rules and when they inquire about what makes us different we are to give them the Gospel trusting that God will give them repentance unto the acknowledging of the truth that they might be converted.
Daily Devotional: Hebrews 10:1-18 Christ A Sacrifice For All
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