what is the purpose?
Do the purposes of God ever
change? Paul gives a resounding “no” to
this question. In the beginning God
designed and created interdependent functions of created things. Relationship is a key aspect of all that is,
and it seems to be God’s purpose for people.
The promise of His Spirit to Abraham came hundreds of years before His
giving of the law to Moses. The Law (or
“being a good Christian”), points to our need for a help and a promise beyond
our selves. It was never intended to be
the vehicle of our salvation and restoration to right relationship with God.
Though few non-Jews would try to
carry out Old Testament Law in their lives, most of us still embrace the Ten
Commandments. I wonder if we sometimes
get lulled into thinking we are “righteous” because we can review how we have
not murdered or stolen, or made any carved idols. However, now that the Promise has been
fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the law is also fulfilled in its completeness, and
it seems we are once again caught by our own failure to keep it. If you doubt this, consider applying the Ten
Commandments according to Jesus:
- Have no other
gods before me è nothing,
no priorities, more important than God and His purposes and priorities.
- Have no man
made idols è no
tangible priorities or earthly goals which supersede relationship with
God.
- Do not take
the name of the Lord in vain è
fulfilling ALL promises and vows
- Keep the
Sabbath day holy è
consistently, without fail, set aside time for reflection and appreciation
of the beauty of God and His creation.
- Honor
your parents è ALWAYS
be honoring in both attitude and action
- Do not
murder è do not
bring death upon another person in any way, directly or indirectly,
literally or figuratively, to their whole person, or to any aspect of
their personality
- Do no
commit adultery è have no
sexual experiences, physically or mentally, outside of marriage
- Do not
steal è directly
or indirectly (think fair trade practices, slave labor, etc), literally or
figuratively (think of taking someone’s joy, freedom, reputation,…)
- Do not
bear false witness è
including lies, gossip, slander, exaggerations, and understatements
- Do not
covet èbe
completely content with what you have in comparison to others, and be
completely glad for any and all of their good experiences and good things
What
are your thoughts on this paraphrase of Jesus’ standards for the Ten
Commandments? Obviously, the law is not
against the purposes of God—it details them!
But the law itself does not empower us to live by it. Are you able to stand, righteous before Him? Or are you, (like me), ready to bow before
Him full of thankfulness for His mercy, delighted and surprised at His gracious
willingness to live
and
work in and through us? The promise of
God’s Spirit by faith in Jesus is seen in its glory it brings
vibrant hope and life, set against the backdrop of the law. Does your life reflect the glory of God and His purposes?
Read
and Pray: Exodus
20:1-17, Psalm 32, 1 John 1:8-2:2
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