You, me a mere hearer only, or a doer of it?
Why waste time?
Been Dropped? - Part 2
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2 Samuel 9
Monday, July 29, 2024
Saturday, July 20, 2024
Go home to your people and report to them what great things literally, "everything that" the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you. ~ Jesus (Mark 5:19 nasb)
One night!
Will you say, “Lord, I will labor in Your field”?
Hey, no matter how much money you make, what career you follow, or whether you’re married or single, will you commit to following Jesus. Will you commit to advancing spiritually with His gospel message, and never stop being available to God as a laborer in His field?
Hey, no matter how much money you make, what career you follow, or whether you’re married or single, will you commit to following Jesus. Will you commit to advancing spiritually with His gospel message, and never stop being available to God as a laborer in His field?
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Why not all y'all.. all we all.. totally trust Him who has time and again shown Himself more than (totally) trustworthy?
Why not all y'all..all we all.. rejoice keepin' the main focus the main focus!
• "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Prov. 3:5-6. Contextually check out these verses...• Hebrews 11:1: Describes faith as trust in God's promises.. All of them have been trustworthy -- they're fulfilled and more are getting fulfilled by him.• Romans 15:1: Encourages people to help believers with weaker faith, and to do things that make other believers edified and blessed in doing his will.• Philippians 4:13: Check out how an apostle explains his faith in the Lord's plan and protection.• Jeremiah 29:11: Expresses faith that God watches over us believers and he has a good plan for us. It's who he is cuz he's caring as well as 100% good. His character in person are trustworthy. He's basically earned the right to be heard, followed and obeyed.• Psalm 9:9: Emphasizes placing full trust in God, even in such bad times with horrible circumstances happening around us. It's a trusting type of love relationship thing.Psalm 56:3-4: Is about expressing confident trust in God no what matter what comes your way. We can do that even when we feel afraid and need to refocus on Jesus like Peter did when he was sinking into the water.• Romans 12:3: States or explains how God has given each person a measure of faith, which can grow. I say: Sow to the Spirit aggressively, diligently, consistently (in prayer, Bible, fellowship, sharing your true story) ..instead of sowing to the world system or to your old fleshly nature. Sow to your biblical faith daily seeking closer friendship with the Lord.. and not to your doubts or to all the misinformation of the media.• Isaiah 12:2: Express confidence in God.. knowing that He with His strength and salvation are totally sufficient. If you've got bad habits, the wrong "close friends", and destructive addictions.. admit it and quit it. I've got lots of really negative-thinking friends (many people do..) but I don't make them my close friends ..yet. Help is available, help that goes the distance with you all the way home.
What's the diff between the two? Faith and trust are often used interchangeably Faith without trust is not faith. Belief without reliance is empty. Many people believe certain facts about Jesus Christ, but knowing those facts to be true is not what the Bible means by “faith.” You can have a living relationship with him.. once you turn and trust .. once you're born into his zoe life (John 3:3).
The biblical definition of faith requires trust in—a commitment to—the facts. The facts of your friends and that's how I made Jesus my best friend.
ie, The relationship between faith and trust is a trust-fall. You have faith that your friends will catch you not letting you hit the ground. The friend that sticks closer than a brother has never let me down. I've let myself down before but not him -- He isn't that way.
Faith and trust have similar meanings, and often people will use the words interchangeably. Even Merriam-Webster defines faith as “belief and trust in and loyalty to God.” For most people there is no practical difference between faith and trust; to them, the two are synonymous. Any differences that exist are very fine.
Trust can be either a noun or a verb, depending on context. As a noun, trust means “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something”; as a verb, it means “to rely on the truthfulness or accuracy of,” “to believe,” “to commit or place in one’s care,” or “to place confidence.” Faith is always a noun (except in cases of its archaic use as a verb).
In Scripture, faith is defined as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
In other words, faith involves trusting in something you cannot explicitly prove. Faith is inseparable from trust; it’s the confidence that God can and will do what He says in His Word. Faith includes both intellectual assent to something and trust in it. So we believe something to be true, and we also place our trust in it—we rely on it. Faith recognizes that a chair is designed to support the person who sits on it, and trust demonstrates the faith by actually sitting in the chair.
Faith without trust SIMPLY IS NOT biblical faith. Belief without reliance is empty. Many people believe certain facts about Jesus Christ, but knowing those facts to be true is not what the Bible means by “faith.” Doesn't it say the demons believe and tremble (see James 2:19)? The biblical definition of faith requires trust in—a commitment to—the facts. The real facts help me establish a real friendship with Christ.
You believe your buddies will not let you hit the ground. The act of falling can be scary at times. You demonstrate the faith you have in your friends with their good character. If there was soft sand or pillows down there, my buddies would let me fall and laugh and I'd laugh with them. Trust in God is a core aspect of biblical faith. He loves you and wants what's best.
Monday, July 15, 2024
Sometimes my flesh doesn't feel like obeying even some good laws of the Land, but it's always the best choice. It best for all really.
Let's really win (in Him, following close..) not just say we will.
This week we're in chapters 22 and 23 and what are these chapters about? "P"s and "C"s - eight of them.
"The justification which comes from God himself must be beyond question. If the Judge acquits me, who can condemn me? If the highest court in the universe has pronounced me just, who shall lay anything to my charge?" ~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon
We are called to know and follow Jesus. We therefore must first know His character and word – He’s righteous, pure and holy.
Lord, thanks for your word! (22:1).. “If someone steals an ox or sheep and then kills or sells it, the thief must pay back five oxen for each ox stolen, and four sheep for each sheep stolen.
2 “If a thief is caught in the act of breaking into a house and is struck and killed in the process, the person who killed the thief is not guilty of murder. 3 But if it happens in daylight, the one who killed the thief is guilty of murder.
“A thief who is caught must pay in full for everything he stole. If he cannot pay, he must be sold as a slave to pay for his theft. 4 If someone steals an ox or a donkey or a sheep and it is found in the thief’s possession, then the thief must pay double the value of the stolen animal.
5 “If an animal is grazing in a field or vineyard and the owner lets it stray into someone else’s field to graze, then the animal’s owner must pay compensation from the best of his own grain or grapes.
6 “If you are burning thornbushes and the fire gets out of control and spreads into another person’s field, destroying the sheaves or the uncut grain or the whole crop, the one who started the fire must pay for the lost crop.
7 “Suppose someone leaves money or goods with a neighbor for safekeeping, and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house. If the thief is caught, the compensation is double the value of what was stolen. 8 But if the thief is not caught, the neighbor must appear before God, who will determine if he stole the property.
9 “Suppose there is a dispute between two people who both claim to own a particular ox, donkey, sheep, article of clothing, or any lost property. Both parties must come before God, and the person whom God declares guilty must pay double compensation to the other.
10 “Now suppose someone leaves a donkey, ox, sheep, or any other animal with a neighbor for safekeeping, but it dies or is injured or is taken away, and no one sees what happened. 11 The neighbor must then take an oath in the presence of the Lord. If the Lord confirms that the neighbor did not steal the property, the owner must accept the verdict, and no payment will be required. 12 But if the animal was indeed stolen, the guilty person must pay compensation to the owner. 13 If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the remains of the carcass must be shown as evidence, and no compensation will be required.
14 “If someone borrows an animal from a neighbor and it is injured or dies when the owner is absent, the person who borrowed it must pay full compensation. 15 But if the owner was present, no compensation is required. And no compensation is required if the animal was rented, for this loss is covered by the rental fee."
“A thief who is caught must pay in full for everything he stole. If he cannot pay, he must be sold as a slave to pay for his theft. 4 If someone steals an ox or a donkey or a sheep and it is found in the thief’s possession, then the thief must pay double the value of the stolen animal.
5 “If an animal is grazing in a field or vineyard and the owner lets it stray into someone else’s field to graze, then the animal’s owner must pay compensation from the best of his own grain or grapes.
6 “If you are burning thornbushes and the fire gets out of control and spreads into another person’s field, destroying the sheaves or the uncut grain or the whole crop, the one who started the fire must pay for the lost crop.
7 “Suppose someone leaves money or goods with a neighbor for safekeeping, and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house. If the thief is caught, the compensation is double the value of what was stolen. 8 But if the thief is not caught, the neighbor must appear before God, who will determine if he stole the property.
9 “Suppose there is a dispute between two people who both claim to own a particular ox, donkey, sheep, article of clothing, or any lost property. Both parties must come before God, and the person whom God declares guilty must pay double compensation to the other.
10 “Now suppose someone leaves a donkey, ox, sheep, or any other animal with a neighbor for safekeeping, but it dies or is injured or is taken away, and no one sees what happened. 11 The neighbor must then take an oath in the presence of the Lord. If the Lord confirms that the neighbor did not steal the property, the owner must accept the verdict, and no payment will be required. 12 But if the animal was indeed stolen, the guilty person must pay compensation to the owner. 13 If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the remains of the carcass must be shown as evidence, and no compensation will be required.
14 “If someone borrows an animal from a neighbor and it is injured or dies when the owner is absent, the person who borrowed it must pay full compensation. 15 But if the owner was present, no compensation is required. And no compensation is required if the animal was rented, for this loss is covered by the rental fee."
- Property (Exodus 22:1–15)? Who hasn't owned some property? God is there for you.. and with all you have. The stuff I have is really here on loan from Him and I want to use it all..as the Lord guides.. to help people.
Yes, here's a good thought this society today needs to hear: God desires for us all to respect everyone and the personal property of all those around us (even in stores). Say no to yourself crook.. say NO TO any form of looting.. and this includes all you tax-hungry crooks in governmental postions too.
What's the main idea in this context? It is restitution where that is needed (vv. 3, 5, 6, 12). Sure, it is not near enough to admit a crime you commit and then show sorrow over it. Honest confession, faith, repentance (getting right with all injured starting with God), receiving forgiveness, and then restitution is needed.
Yes, it's imperative for each of us to also maintain a readiness to make things right with all relationships. To go and completely address those who have been hurt (Prov. 6:30–31; Luke 19:8). King David in the OT knew that verse 1 and could apply it to others (2 Sam. 12:1–6), but he did not apply Exodus 20:13–14 to himself.
(22:21-27).. “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. 22 You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, 24 and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless. 25 “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. 26 If ever you take your neighbor's cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, 27 for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate."
- Persons (16–27). These multiple laws in these verses reveal the white-hot holiness and purity of God (His righteous Character) along with His strong desire that we live as pure and holy people with Him (v. 31).
Like that pet bird, my pastor Greg Laurie found in his yard.. when obeyed.. these laws protected God's people from all kinds of bad stuff that could happen. Like what? Like from violence, from extortion, from oppression, and from affliction. God really feels for and has compassion on the widows, the orphans, the poor workers (James 5:1–4), and on the strangers among His people. Do we feel and show such?
- Principles (28–31), they matter gobs. Fear nothing but God, believer. Fear no man. I mean serve the Lord wholeheartedly with that healthy (instead of unhealthy) fear inside. Yes, that literally reveres, obeys and respects Him all the way home. Live tight with Jesus going the distance yet wisely.. cautiously.. so as not to hurt any (via sinning) and thus bring down God's discipline to you his beloved child. With a healthy fear of sorts? Yes. The Israelites when they heard God's audible voice feared with the wrong type of fear so Moses had to quickly address this.
- Choose to fear (whole book) God enough without any shortage ever, and put Him first in everything. Prayerfullly crack open His Book, the Bible. Inquire of Christ as Lord first, pause to hear his voice and directives, His warnings etc and obey him in all that you do. Yes, be a doer of the word and not merely a hearer of it -- enjoy him close, His spiritual people close, and his blessings too.
Jesus summarized it all in Matthew 6:33. If we each truly love God with all our hearts, then we will have no desire to hurt others and will pray accordingly. But if God is not first in our individual lives and we put ourselves up on the throne so to speak, then we each who do that will start to walk in the flesh while exploiting other people to get what we want. You are either enjoying a going forward spiritually kind of day, or a going backward spiritually kind of day. Daily sow to the Spirit (not to both the Spirit and to your fleshly nature inside) and then consistently (prayerfully) walk in the Spirit. Diligently edify yourself first in the Bible, in prayer, in church fellowship, in worship and in witnessing (by life, attitude, words and deeds).
God’s civil law shows us a clear picture of a kingdom that reflects God’s righteous character. Have you ever read a law and wondered, “what in the world were lawmakers even thinking?”
- Arizona: you can't have a donkey sleeping in your bathtub after 7 p.m
- Kansas: illegal to serve ice cream on cherry pie
- California: it's against the law to eat an orange while taking a bath
- Alabama: it's illegal to drive while blindfolded
- Arkansas: it's illegal to sound your horn at any place where cold drinks or sandwiches are served after 9 p.m.
- Delaware: it's against the law for a pawnbroker to accept an artificial limb or wheelchair as payment
- Georgia: it's illegal to consume fried chicken by any other means than with your hands
- Louisiana: it's illegal for a woman to drive a car without her husband waving a flag in front of it beforehand
- Maine: it's illegal to bite your landlord
- Kansas: it's illegal to throw knives at men wearing striped suits
- Georgia: it's illegal to tie a giraffe to a telephone pole or street lamp
(23:1).. “You must not pass along false rumors. You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand.
2 “You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice. 3 And do not slant your testimony in favor of a person just because that person is poor.
4 “If you come upon your enemy’s ox or donkey that has strayed away, take it back to its owner. 5 If you see that the donkey of someone who hates you has collapsed under its load, do not walk by. Instead, stop and help.
6 “In a lawsuit, you must not deny justice to the poor.
7 “Be sure never to charge anyone falsely with evil. Never sentence an innocent or blameless person to death, for I never declare a guilty person to be innocent.
8 “Take no bribes, for a bribe makes you ignore something that you clearly see. A bribe makes even a righteous person twist the truth.
9 “You must not oppress foreigners. You know what it’s like to be a foreigner, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt."
2 “You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice. 3 And do not slant your testimony in favor of a person just because that person is poor.
4 “If you come upon your enemy’s ox or donkey that has strayed away, take it back to its owner. 5 If you see that the donkey of someone who hates you has collapsed under its load, do not walk by. Instead, stop and help.
6 “In a lawsuit, you must not deny justice to the poor.
7 “Be sure never to charge anyone falsely with evil. Never sentence an innocent or blameless person to death, for I never declare a guilty person to be innocent.
8 “Take no bribes, for a bribe makes you ignore something that you clearly see. A bribe makes even a righteous person twist the truth.
9 “You must not oppress foreigners. You know what it’s like to be a foreigner, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt."
- Consideration (Exodus 23:1–9). We are to properly evaluate judging righteously instead of self-righteously. Treating people fairly, kindly, and justly would seem to be sort of an easy thing to do right? Jesus said my yoke is easy. Okay, do we allow Him to lead as Lord over all?
But the heart is desperately wicked who can trust it. The sinful human heart can lead us astray with falsehoods and rumors (2 Cor. 13:1), by false witnesses, by crowds and huge masses heading in one wrong direction, and by money too if we are not careful. The fact that a person is rich or poor, a friend or a foe, must not blind us to the truth of God's word. Too many are deceived and even self-deceived but Integrity must not be for sale.
(v.10-11 esv) “For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield, 11 but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the beasts of the field may eat. You shall do likewise with your vineyard, and with your olive orchard."
- Conservation (10–13). The Sabbath was God’s special gift to His people Israel to mark this nation as His holy chosen people (Exod. 31:13–17). It was also His gift to mankind and to beasts that men used for work.. to provide them with the needed rest. The Sabbatical Year showed His concern for the land and for the poor. It is unfortunate that people today have forgotten these lessons and are destroying creation by their exploitation of resources. But this hyper-earth-focused world system is always pointing the finger of blame at individuals today when some of what we are seeing here is due to Adam and Eve's sin in the garden. We all now live in a sin-cursed world and we can still do our best with our responsibilities here to be considerate of others. No excuses.
- Celebration (14–19). God wants His people to all-out righteously celebrate and rejoice in His goodness. If any of our celebration here ignore the Lord, then guess what.. we like the children of Israel with that golden bovine party.. are guilty of idolatry. (See 1 Tim. 6:17.)
- Consecration (20–33). The nation of Israel would be entering enemy into new territory and many would be tempted to spiritually compromise with the wicked locals of the land. They must not even speak about the false gods (v. 13) lest they would be led to bow down in worship, to serve those gods (v. 24) and to make covenant promises with them (v. 32). Do not get distracted by all the things that have distracted others, please don't over reason in the wrong direction talking yourself into spiritual compromise where you're disobeying God!
Ex 34:6–7 "6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” esv
Deuteronomy 4:5–8 "See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ 7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? 8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?
Exodus 20:12 - “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
Deuteronomy 21:18-21esv “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, 19 then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, 20 and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ 21 Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
Exodus 21:12–14 “Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. 13 But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. 14 But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.
Ex 21:18–21 “When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist and the man does not die but takes to his bed, 19 then if the man rises again and walks outdoors with his staff, he who struck him shall be clear; only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall have him thoroughly healed. 20 “When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged. 21 But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be avenged, for the slave is his money.
Ex 21:22–25 “When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman's husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23 But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
So what is the difference between the ceremonial law, the moral law, and the Civil law in the Old Testament?When is civil disobedience allowed for a Christian?
Do Christians have to obey the laws of the land? Don't if it means you sinning by you going against the word of God.
The Apostle Paul says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit." Rom. 8:3-5
"READ THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, AND PAUSE AT EACH ONE, AND CONFESS THAT YOU HAVE BROKEN IT EITHER IN THOUGHT, OR WORD, OR DEED. REMEMBER THAT BY A GLANCE WE MAY COMMIT ADULTERY, BY A THOUGHT WE MAY BE GUILTY OF MURDER, BY A DESIRE WE MAY STEAL." ~"READ THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, AND PAUSE AT EACH ONE, AND CONFESS THAT YOU HAVE BROKEN IT EITHER IN THOUGHT, OR WORD, OR DEED. REMEMBER THAT BY A GLANCE WE MAY COMMIT ADULTERY, BY A THOUGHT WE MAY BE GUILTY OF MURDER, BY A DESIRE WE MAY STEAL." ~ CHARLES H. SPURGEON CHARLES H. SPURGEON
Man, 600 plus is a whole lot of laws. As a child I thought ten was a lot and now I'm grateful for all of them.
If you've been losing the battle, but come as you are to Jesus today (here and now is good).. or come back to Him just as you are.. but willing to be changed by him. He can do that -- does this every day of the week! God can empower each of us to obey His Word and laws for his glory. He can help us sow to His Spirit and not to the world or to our old fleshly nature inside. Christ was/is victorious and He delights to help us be that way in Him. knowGod.org
Determine this believer, not to become legalistic for we must wisely love all people.
..but spend some time memorizing, musing and meditating upon: God's Top 10 List and his other laws of love in the Bible.
Obedience to God and his will ain't some weird religious test. He's never been that way or mean-legalistic. It's simply his method of giving what's best for us. Yeah, he's thinking about others too.
"When obedience to God contradicts what I think will give me pleasure, let me ask myself if I love Him." ~ Elisabeth Elliot
"Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will." ~ Jonathan Edwards
"Obedience to God's will is the secret of spiritual knowledge and insight. It is not willingness to know, but willingness to DO (obey) God's will that brings certainty." ~ Eric Liddell
Paul said, "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience." Romans 13:1-5
Of course there is a proper rebellion that is in full submission to the highest Authority. Yes, there's a place and time for that civil disobedience. Going against the wrong and destructive things that tyrants tell you to do is obedience to God. He is the higher authority with more. Far higher and more than some of the fools leading nations today have.
Let's keep a humble submissive attitude while praying for our leaders, yet without any spiritual compromise.
"But Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than men.'" Acts 5:29 esv
What does the Bible say about obedience?
Saturday, July 13, 2024
God is holy and generous -- He gave us His Holy Laws for our benefit, not His. It's about being set apart as good witnesses for the Lord.
I like how Mr. J. Vernon Mgee likens the law to a mirror where you can see the smudge on your face after working and the altar to the wash basin under the faucet.. where you can be cleansed.
This week I've been looking at the different type of laws, still musing on God's Top Ten List (a.k.a. the Ten Commandments, His Moral Code of laws). We're looking at the three different types of laws too. Yes, the Ceremonial, Civil and Moral laws. Read Exodus 20:18- 26, 24:1–8, Levitcus 17:11 and Hebrews 9:6–15.
God isn't out to scare us -- he doesn't want us to live scared of Him. He is coming closer to the people than they've ever been before. But there is a fear of God that is healthy to have. We can't ignore this -- let's obey Him, be doers of His word. In love for Him let's wisely apply His principles and laws.
We will discuss the rest of the Law in three different categories, just summarizing the main purpose of those types of laws instead of looking at every law individually:
- Ceremonial Law - Those are Laws relating to Israel's being set apart as a nation and their relationship with a very holy God. Worshipping Him alone, instead of how people worshiped in Egypt. It's about tlean and unclean foods, not mixing different threads or seeds, etc., were all about making a distinction between God's people and the people of this world. The atonement sacrifices were about purifying the people and the tabernacle from their sin so that God could dwell there among them. The non-atonement sacrifices were about thanks, praise and devotion to God. The festivals were celebrations of what God had done for His children, the Jewish people.
- Civil Law-regulations - those are pecific to Israel's time and place as God's covenant people following Him. They may not directly relate to our culture today, but they will always have a principle behind them that we can wise apply to our lives. There are transferable truths from the OT.
- Moral Law - those laws are more general, and not specific to their time and culture there, which are directly applicable to all people of all times and cultures. Not just the Ten Commandments, but many other laws fall into this category. This is all about properly loving your neighbor as yourself, like welcoming the stranger, genuinely caring for the poor, praising the Lord and worship, etc.
I've been speaking about all the different things the Law reminds for safety and freedom.
"For now in this time of imperfection we see in a mirror dimly blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma, but then when the time of perfection comes we will see reality face to face. Now I know in part just in fragments, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known by God." 1 Cor. 13:12 amp
"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Cor. 3:18 nkjv
"And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Cor. 3:18 amp
What does it mean that now we see in a mirror dimly (1 Corinthians 13:12)?
Within the Scriptures, we have the complete revelation of God, but our understanding of it remains limited (see 1 Corinthians 8:1–3). As we grow in the faith, we undergo a process of spiritual maturation as individual believers (2 Peter 3:18) and together as the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11–16). Paul calls this progressive development toward Christian maturity “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14, ESV). It is our heavenward journey of intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ.
Along the way, we must stay laser-focused on Jesus, who is the trailblazing forerunner of our quest (Hebrews 12:1–2). He demonstrates the way through His perfect obedience to the Father (John 4:34; 5:30; Luke 22:42). As the Author and Perfecter of our faith, He not only inspires us, but Christ also empowers us to grow toward our heavenly stature. He starts the good work in us and “will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
In the meantime, until the Lord returns or we reach heaven, we have limited understanding and knowledge—we see in a mirror dimly.
"But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God's precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth]. For if anyone only listens to the word without obeying it, he is like a man who looks very carefully at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he immediately forgets what he looked like. But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a careless listener who forgets but an active doer who obeys, he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does in his life of obedience." Jas. 1:22-25 amp
The people in law-abiding societies in this world enjoy a lot more safety and freedom. Yes, have you ever noticed that?.. the nations where there is more obedience to good laws, that's where there is far more freedom for the people to walk on the streets and function in safety.
I'm thinking of the vertical dependence that's needed. I never want to become legalistic or too permissive regarding His laws -- we're called to prioritize, to worship the Lord acceptably, and to wisely love people no matter their background or what they are like.
Man, We each need the Lord to equip and empower us daily to keep his laws.
I look forward to seeing the Lord face to face don't you? You can and now is good. KnowGod.org
