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.

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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