Tag: God

Rule of Law

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 21:1-2, 7-17, 22-27; 22:21-31; 23:1-12 (day two)

We are a nation of laws. We believe and affirm them as guides to a civil society. Most organizations from the largest corporations to the smallest club have some type of regulations, rules, or laws that people are expected to follow if they want the rights and privileges that come from belonging to that organization. Although much of the language and spirit of the laws we are reading about today refer to a culture that is no longer around, they do inform us that God understands our bent to structure. We need guidelines and parameters to function well. In order to know where we can go, we must also know where we cannot. Beyond the do’s and don’ts how can obeying the laws of the land, and more importantly God’s laws bring honor to him? Law need not be a burden, but an opportunity to show obedience and commitment to our calling.

Moral, Civil, Ceremonial

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 21:1-2, 7-17, 22-27; 22:21-31; 23:1-12 (day one)

It is an important point.  God gave the people of Israel three different kinds of law.  Moral law–the Ten Commandments.  Written on stone to symbolize their permanence.  For all people, at all times.  Civil law–laws for the national life of Israel.  Not permanent or universal.  See Acts 10-11 as God convinces Peter to set aside  “kosher” law.  Ceremonial law–guidance for the religious life of Israel.  Feasts and fasts and ceremonies.  No longer binding on Christians, but rich in symbolism and instruction.  Fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  Our RE Verse reading this week deals with civil and ceremonial laws.  Are Christians under these?  No!  Is the Moral law still a permanent revelation of God’s will for us (achieved now by the Spirit)?  Yes! “Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of the Law shall pass away, until all is accomplished.”–Jesus (Matthew 5:18)  Followers of Christ benefit from reading and reflecting on the Law.

Twice Mine

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 20:1-17 (day seven) 

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.  You shall have no other gods before me.”–v 2-3.  Old story.  Boy builds a toy boat.  Loves “sailing” it in a pond near his house.  Loses it one day.  Sees it later in a pawn shop window.  Buys it back.  Says, “you are twice mine, I made you and I bought you.”

God owns us the same way.  He made us in creation.  He purchased us through our redemption in Christ.  We are “twice His”.   A clear claim in this week’s text.  “I AM the Lord your God (creator), who brought you out of Egypt (savior).  YOU SHALL worship only Me!   Who can dispute that God DESERVES our obedience?  We are twice His.

I will look for you in worship in a few hours.  We will think together on what we owe Him.  I love you guys!

Our [g]ods

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 20:1-17 (day six)

Exodus 20:4
Our gods are of our own making. Even when we think on God we tend to “make him in our own image.” We keep the things we like and cast off the things we don’t. Every culture and every generation does it. A new way of thinking about God began anew when God told Moses His name, “I AM.” The name was a clear statement of His holiness; that he was distinct and separate from humanity, that He had a character and nature all of his own that wasn’t dependent on human invention.

That’s why the Law was so good, because it was God revealing to the Hebrew people (and humanity) that you can’t make gods in your image anymore, because I AM your God. The giving of the Law exposed our god-making nature. The Law takes us back to the earliest days in the garden when the Serpent tempted Eve with the notion that she would become like God if she ate of the fruit. Ever since we have been exalting ourselves by fashioning our own gods. The Law says, to be like God you must lay down your god-making ways and worship God only, and then will you clearly see that you were made in the very image of God. The Law reveals our tarnished God-like image; it did back then and it does today.

The Law, and then ultimately Jesus (he alone fulfilled the Law on our behalf) is a God ordained means to restore His image in humanity. Which is why Paul wrote in Romans 8:29, “those who he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of the Son.”

 

Be thankful for the Law; it is good!

Written in Stone

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 20:1-17 (day four)  We have a saying…”It is written in stone!”  We mean that it is established, unchangeable, and permanent.  God’s 10 commandments were written in stone.  As important as they were to the Israelites then, God had even greater plans for His Laws.  Romans 2:12-16 tells us that those who have the Law will be judged by the Law, those who do not have the Law will be judged by the Law written on their hearts.  God’s intention was never justification for the Israelites alone.  He wrote His Law on the hearts of the Gentiles as well.  We are each judged by our obedience to God’s Law.  It is not the letter of the Law that saves, it is Christ in our hearts…God’s Law written on our heart off flesh.  When we, by faith, respond to the invitation of Christ, we receive justification before God that was never achievable through tablets of stone.

Score

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 20:1-17 (day three)

“And God spoke all these words.”  These Ten Commandments call us to a whole life; they cannot be separated from one another and mean the same thing that they mean together.  The man who will not observe the Sabbath will surely believe that the world will not function without him, and therefore will place himself as a god before the Lord.  The one who refuses to honor his parents will desecrate family ties and is therefore only a step away from destroying another family through adultery.  God spoke “all these words” not some of these words.  Separated, they just become an occasion for measuring our lives up against others, and when we do that, we covet everything our neighbor has.  God calls us to a life, not to a score.

Barriers and Views

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 20:1-17 (day two)

What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. Romans 7:7

So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good. Romans 7:12

If you heard Pastor Don’s children’s sermon this week you will remember the picture of a boy looking over a cliff at the ocean waves crashing against the rocks hundreds of feet below. You will also remember the gate that was put up to protect people from going over the edge. If you have been to many monuments or parks like these you know these barriers exist. If done well they will protect you, but not hinder the majesty of the view. You are aware of their presence by the way the guard you from danger or intrusion. God’s law is like this. By it we know where sin is, and what we ought to be wary of, but it does not hinder our view of God. Like any warning or barrier, they serve to articulate what is not good for us and how we should monitor our choices. In the end our view is spectacular and we are safe.

The Ten (der) Commandments

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 20:1-17 (day one)

It is our privilege, this week, to reflect on the 10 Commandments.  It is not unusual for moderns to claim that the law is no longer binding on believers,  an “Old Testament thing”.  I disagree.  Jesus said, “Whoever shall break one of the least of these commandments, and shall teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven.”–Matthew 5:17.  God’s law and God’s love are not separate things.  Over and over, God makes the point that they are given “that it might go well with you.” (Deuteronomy 12:28, Ephesians 6:3)  God is not arbitrary.  He is not power hungry.  Why should He be?  He gives laws to live by, because, in the very nature of things, our lives will be better for the following.  None of us can say WE LOVE HIM if we ignore His laws.  All of us can say that HE HAS LOVED US by giving His Ten (der) Commandments.

Bible Togetherness

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 19:1-12, 16-22 (day six)

His nation was in spiritual tatters, the Temple in disrepair, and young king Josiah did not follow in his father’s footsteps. Rather he began initiatives to restore his people. In the process of restoring the Temple the high priest stumbled upon the Book of the Law and brought it to Josiah’s secretary. When Josiah’s secretary began to read to him from the Book of the Law, “he tore his clothes (2 Kings 22:11).” He grieved at the thought of he and his people disobeying God for generations, and he was fearful of God’s wrath. The Book of the Law broke the heart of Josiah.

It was that Law that was about to be delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai. Save for the incarnation their might not be a greater event in human history; God’s inaugural written revelation delivered to humanity. We find the people in Exodus 19 instructed to “consecrate” themselves as they prepare to act as over-hearers at the base of the mountain. This was no small thing; this was not life in the mundane.

When we posture ourselves to listen to God’s revelation; when we yield to the voice of God we can’t help but be transformed. We can’t help but see ourselves for who we are in light of His revealed Word, and that is grace to us. The thunder and lighting, smoke and fire, and the written Law was an extraordinary work of grace that day on Mount Sinai. Even the slightest glimpses of God lay us bare, exposing all our deepest and darkest frailties, and that kind of self-knowledge is the beginning of restoration. Let us expose ourselves to the majesty and glory of the Gospel, that Jesus may lead us in ongoing restoration in all of our life; even the most broken and shameful parts he can redeem! Will you “consecrate” yourselves this week? Will you remove yourself out of the mundane in order to be ready to see glimpses a glorious and majestic God who redeems?

Praying for multitudes of “Josiah” moments in the FBCSA family! Pray with me!

ID

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 19:1-12, 16-22 (day five)

The main task for adolescents is to solve and settle one fundamental question, “Who Am I?”  Identity formation is a long (social scientists indicate longer now than ever) and complex process.   What’s important?  What is true? Who can I trust?

4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. 5 Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’

Throughout Exodus and the Old Testament (for the Israelites) and all through the New Testament (for believers) (see 1 Peter 2) God continues to answer this crucial question.  We best understand and discover our ID (Who We Are) in covenant relationship with God where we value, obey, and trust Him.  As we examine our hearts and lives today, how do our perspectives, personalities, and priorities echo the Character and Promises of God?