Galatians 5:4-6
Christ is useless to you if you are counting on clearing your debt to God by keeping those laws; you are lost from God’s grace.
But we by the help of the Holy Spirit are counting on Christ’s death to clear away our sins and make us right with God. And we to whom Christ has given eternal life don’t need to worry about whether we have been circumcised or not, or whether we are obeying the Jewish ceremonies or not; for all we need is faith working through love.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
My beloved Aunt Bessie was a devoted believer in Jesus – and quite the student of scripture. I remember hearing the account of her attendance at a Sunday school class one morning where a particular passage of scripture from the Old Testament was presented. I wish I knew the actual passage reference, but I know that Aunt Bessie spoke up and told her fellow attendees…“You do realize that these people were having a drunken party, don’t you?” Either the other ladies had glossed over this point, or they just refused to acknowledge what they were reading. But on this Sunday morning in the 1960s, a group of Southern Baptist ladies were shocked and appalled to hear someone mention a “drunken party” in their Sunday school class! And yet…there it was, described in scripture for all to see!
I share this story to say that too many people pick and choose what to acknowledge in the Bible…or how they will interpret what they read. They make “laws” out of verses and passages that are not truly the commands of God…or they were meant for a specific people in a specific time. And over and again, people take phrases and passages out of context with the declaration that, “This is what it says in the Bible.” Some even go so far as to say, “MY Bible says XYZ,” as if they have some special edition with the real message from God!
Over the years, I’ve heard several people assert that they had to do something or attend an event just because the doors were open. Often, they would note…“The PASTOR said to come!” During the pandemic, I actually heard pastors and others claim that “church is the safest place to be,” as if somehow, God miraculously put physical barriers around church campuses and kept COVID from permeating them. In truth, there are many accounts of church bodies that were inundated with the virus…often with deadly consequences. After all, the first outbreak of COVID in my own county began in a church group, where many were hospitalized and at least one person died. And at least one other congregation was hit hard by the outbreak and lost members.
On a somewhat more subtle level, many have been led to believe certain things about their faith based on the word and “law” of other humans…leaders in the church, respected elders, or even dear friends who are steady in their convictions that “scripture tells us” certain things. They refuse to take a backward step to consider the context or a broader view of what has been written. We have got to be continually diligent in our study and interpretation of God’s word – and His will for our lives.
We cannot pick one or two verses and use them to justify our stance on a particular issue. As I consider the scripture passages from my outline for these devotionals, I generally expand the text to study verses before and after the passage in an effort to make sure that I am understanding fully what God intended me to share with you. Many times, what I thought was the main theme is something different as I consider the broader context and prayerfully ask God for guidance and discernment. And while God uses certain passages to direct us with regard to current events or situations, we must never twist His word to suit our own agenda.
Here’s my point…determine Whose “law” you are following. Are you claiming the word of God as your daily compass while failing to fully grasp the WORD of God for you in that moment? Are you so steeped in the “we’ve-always-done-it-this-way” or “that’s-what-I-have always-been-taught” mentality that you refuse to recognize what God is saying directly to you? I cannot tell you how many things God has shown me over the years that are vastly different than what I was taught. I do not blame those who lead and nurtured me. But I do thank God for speaking directly to me as I study His word – and showing me His truths.
We don’t have to stay mired in past ideas. We can change as God changes us. And we must! Seek God’s will and dare to boldly live in it. Trust Him to guide and guard you, even as others criticize or condemn you for your stances. If we focus on “laws” and miss God’s intention, we risk also missing His grace. Trust God. Listen for His voice – and follow His lead in all things. Truly, all we need is faith working through love. Alleluia!
©2022 Debbie Robus
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