As humans, whether we like to believe it or not we like order, clear rules, like a list of do's and don'ts because in a way it makes things easier for us. If you know what you can, and can not do it makes it easier for you to judge how well you are doing, when you don't do anything wrong according to this list, then you can pat yourself on the back and feel as if you have accomplished something, and if you do break a rule on this list then you know you have done something wrong and you can beat yourself up about it, or, as a lot of people do, just no care either way.
Well, there were this people back in Jesus' day called Pharisees, and these guys are highly criticized for pretty much being so deeply in love with the law. The law is the rules and regulations that were laid out before Jesus came. The Jews were supposed to follow all of these, pretty much in order to be cool with God. They had toearn their way to God by following all of these laws. The craziest part was that even when Jesus came, and they were literally in the presence of God ... these rules and regulations were more important to them than being with Him.
Now when I first looked back at the accounts of the pharisees, I really had this mentality of "What was their problem?!", I mean there they were with God in the flesh and all they cared about was whether or not these rules were being followed. See, in reality, the purpose of all those rules and regulations were to show that we can't do it on our own ... that it is impossible to live the perfect life required by God, which is one thing that made Christ so much more beautiful, that He paid the price, and we have been saved from the "curse of the law" ( Galatians 3:13 ).
What I came to realize is that I am no better than them, the pharisees that is. Like I said earlier, it's so much easier to try to follow these rules and regulations, and judge myself based on how well i'm doing with these, rather than simply having a relationship with the God that created time and space. See, that is what God wants, He simply wants to have a relationship with us, that is why He sent His only begotten Son to die for us. He didn't want us to have to worry about following a bunch of rules and regulations, so He sent Christ to be the perfect sacrifice so we could simply have a relationship with Him. How amazing is that? God just wants to BE WITH US ... no strings attached. I love it, but too often I find myself wanting to prove myself worthy by doing things, and He doesn't want that ... He just wants to BE WITH US.
Second Corinthians 3:6 tells us that "... the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life", the letter being the law, and how true that is? There is such freedom in giving up those rules, and simply having a relationship with God. It's amazing, and it's beautiful ... and I feel so amazingly blessed to have a relationship with a God that loves me, and cares deeply about me.
How about today we stop doing things to earn Gods love, and start simply basking, and enjoying His love ... and have a relationship with Him.
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