R³ Devotional - Day 308

What do you believe...the Law of God, or the law that men added to the Law of God?  From the earliest of times when God chose His people to free them from Egypt and bring them to His promised land, the temptation of man was to “add his own input” to God’s established law!  When you are more concerned about ritual laws than you are about your faith, trust, and relationship with God through Christ, you are off track…plain and simple.
In Matthew 12, we see Jesus “educating” the Jewish leaders on matters such as this…how they got so caught up in the laws they themselves were adding to that they missed the clear message of the Messiah in the Word of God that they claimed to know so well.  Jesus uses situations, parables, and time in questioning to clearly show Himself to them.  How did they react…let’s just say they didn’t turn to Him!

Mark 12 begins with the parable of tenants, where Jesus uses the parable to clearly paint a picture of how He is received by the Jewish leaders.  Where they should have been moved to repentance by the parable, they responded in the exact opposite manner.  From then forward, it was a “system” of trying to catch Him in something wrong to be able to not just arrest Him, but to shut Him up…silence Him!  Why?  Because they were no longer being seen as the elevated, respected people they craved to be.  He is questioned about taxes and legal handling of widows along with the resurrection.  Jesus then tells them (in response to a question) that the commandments of God can be “boiled” down to just two, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart…” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  He finishes with the widow's offering, noting the Widow’s commitment to giving in her poverty (trusting the Lord to provide), comparing it to the Jewish leaders and wealthy giving easily out of their abundance (most likely boasting about it).

Real Life Principles: God’s commandments are clear in His Holy Word.  The first list was short (10), and we couldn’t even keep those.  More were added to set His chosen people apart from those around them.  But then there are the additions made by man to “clarify” God’s perfect law…isn’t that ridiculous!  Don’t get caught up in man-added laws and ceremonial worship…your faith in Jesus and what He did for you saves you.  Sinful acts are clearly spelled out in His Word, but we can’t know that unless we dive into His Word.  Accepting Christ is the beginning of a lifelong relationship that grows through obedience, discipling, and repentance, all the while the fruits of what that produces are what shows God in our lives.  My point is this…we shouldn’t approach our relationship legalistically (I can’t do this, I can’t do that) but approach it a manner of reverence and respect (I don’t want to “hurt” God by the way I lead my life).

Relevant Life Applications: The Jewish leaders were so caught up in their long list of laws and rituals that they missed the Messiah standing right in front of them for roughly 3 years.  There’s a hymn I have always loved, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”, Put Him first in everything…in your Family, in your Church, in your community, in your work, and in your play (hobbies).  The rest will fall into place naturally if you work to this each day.

Being Ready with Life Action Steps: Get started in that walk!  If you have not made that decision to trust in and follow Him, do it…feel His Holy Spirit calling you to Him.  Once that is started, get discipled…show up to regular fellowship, worship, teaching, and preaching with a body of believers in a God-ordained church.  Continue that walk, even when it’s hard.  Having that relationship seals your eternity but living that relationship well shines the Gospel to others who are once as we were…lost and in need of Him.