Legalism or Obedience?
Today, we double up on the downloads. I have a poster for Proverbs 14 and for Proverbs 15. They aren’t my words, they are simply scripture. I believe scripture is meant to be seen AND heard.
I think it is such an honor to know that I am a child of YHWH. As His child, I need His instructions. I need to know what I can, and cannot do. But it is more than that. It is about pleasing Him. I am a father. I am very pleased when I observe my child honoring me. It is the same way with our heavenly Father. I believe that we can get too busy with trying to know where that line is - “what can we get away with?” rather than “What would make Him happy.”
have we gotten in the habit of asking the wrong question?
A New Look On Legalism
Believe it or not, you will not find Jesus mentioning legalism. His frequent warnings to (and about) Pharisees is addressing hypocrisy and actually missing the mark toward God’s laws because of man-made laws. Don’t believe me? Look it up. There are a couple brand new translations which have taken the liberty to add the word “legalism” in there, but it is not in any of the manuscripts or dozens of translations.
Why not flip the script (as they say) and look at our half-hearted obedience as a form of legalism rather than looking at the actual instructions of Yahweh Almighty and cautioning ourselves away from His perfect will?
For example, a young person may ask himself, or a counselor, “Can I get a tattoo and still be saved?” In this case, he might know about Leviticus 19:28 as well as I Corinthians 3:16.
You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you. I am Yahweh. - Lev. 19:28
Don’t you know that you are a temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you? - I Cor 3:16
His friend will likely make reference to the fact that Leviticus is in the “Old” Testament and that refraining from marking up our body will not save us. Is it possible that he nit-picked the law of “saved by grace” in order to fulfil his selfish desire? Is it possible that he has made up the “hell/not hell” argument to relieve his own conscience? And after he has strained that gnat, perhaps he misses the camel of an overall mindset of doing his best to please the very King who saved him.
You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel! - Matt. 23:24
Will We Ever Learn?
Basically, the scripture is clear regarding the benefits of pleasing God. It helps us, as individuals, and it helps the world around us. Blessing God blesses us. Knowing the fact that we are human should draw us closer to the mouth of God rather than giving us an excuse to put our hands over our ears.
This is why I study. I was that young man. All I wanted was to know what I could “get away with.” I was more of a legalist than the one who holds up list of basic instructions for righteous living.
The Holy Spirit came upon me one night and I was hit with conviction over my lazy faith. While I don’t pretend to be perfect, I can still preach repentance. I know that God leads his sheep to green pastures and the sheep who continually seek His fence, will likely miss the best grass.
Obedience Is Wise
Obedience Pleases Abba Father
Salvation Or Obedience
Regarding the question of a life of righteousness, have we gotten in the habit of asking the wrong question? Are we purposely doing so, perhaps to ease our Holy Spirit conscience?
Instead of asking:
Can I _________ and still be saved?
Can I be a Christian and still __________?
Maybe we should ask:
Abba Yahweh, does _______ please you and glorify your Holy Name?
And what is your best desire for me as your beloved?
What is His desire for you? What does God want for your Country? If you need wisdom, ask Him. He will tell you.
Be blessed, and keep smiling.