Study from God’s Word… Is 28: 1 – 15; Is 29: 13; Is 28: 16 – 29; Is 1 – 14; Is 29: 1 – 8; Is 33: 1; Is 29: 9 - 21 … Passage for Reflection: Isaiah 28: 10 – 12; … Is. 29: 13 … NIV 10 For it is: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there." 11 Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people, 12 to whom he said, "This is the resting place, let the weary rest"; and, "This is the place of repose"—but they would not listen. … 29: 13 The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.
My Journal for Today: Wow! Isaiah’s challenge and charge must’ve been so ultimately frustrating. Seeing God’s people falling away from God’s way; and then when they did get into religion, as with today’s highlight passages, the religious leaders imposed their own rules on the people, setting in motion a stark, legalistic system that drove the people even further away from the one, true God. And poor Isaiah could see where it all was headed and that was to the captivity of God’s people by hoards of Gentiles, which would ultimately lead to the Babylonian captivity.
And Dr. Smith, my devotional author, leads me today us see that religious rules/regulations, in Isaiah’s time or now, are never the answer for unrighteousness; and we still see that on the scene today, thousands of years after Isaiah. In fact, Jesus, when He came on the scene, which had been prophesied by Isaiah, preached much the same message as had the Prophets before Him … that mankind will never find rest and repose in rules and regulations.
Our only freedom … our only peace … can be found in complete and utter surrender to the One Who has come to free us from ourselves. But legalistic systems of religion, devised or imposed by man, can never lead one to the peace offered when one gives Himself over completely to God by their faith in the Messiah. So, when we’re wrapped up in our religious rituals, and the dos and don’ts of life, we need to beware that these systems are not taking us away from our Savior rather than drawing us to Him. And that’s what will happen if we let legalism supersede our deep and abiding relationship with Christ.
Come to Jesus, my friend. Rest in Him; and Him alone. We must avoid rule-ism and getting wrapped up in what we must do or don’t do. My only MUST is to do what Jesus commanded me to do in Luke 9: 23 … to deny myself … and follow Him! And when I do that, I will find rest. Our Lord promised it (see Matt. 11: 28-30); and that’s all I need to find rest/repose. So, if you seek it, as I do, let’s find it in Christ.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, I come to You for my rest. Amen
Showing posts with label legalism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label legalism. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
2010 – May 30 – Avoiding the Extremes
Study from God’s Word… Today I was led to study the Proverbs of the Teacher – Sayings of Solomon dealing with life issues coming from the wisdom of having lived for many years … Passage for Reflection: Ecclesiastes 7: 16 - 18… NIV 16 Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise — why destroy yourself? 17 Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool — why die before your time?
For Scriptural Comparison: Ecclesiastes 7: 16 - 18… NKJV 16 Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time?
My Journal for Today: Yes, there are PROVERBS in the book of Ecclesiastes as well as those in the Book of Proverbs, both attributed to the teachings of Solomon. So, what’s the difference? Well, the answer lies partly in when they were written in Solomon’s life. Proverbs was written much earlier in Solomon’s reign, very likely for a younger father to impart what wisdom God had entrusted with him to his first born son, his family, and Gods’ people. But Ecclesiastes was written to impart wisdom to all of God’s peoples from a King who had lived many years in disobedience to God’s law and His commands to Kings of His chosen people. In Ecclesiastes these are the proverbs of experience rather than the teachings of anticipation we find in Proverbs.
Solomon had learned, by this time in his life, important lessons from life about life; and he was compelled, and I believe Spirit-led – to document those lessons into the Book of the Teacher, which we call “Ecclesiastes.” And today one of those lessons, which teacher Smith focused upon, had to do with doing what we can to avoid extremes in our life. The lesson, in a nutshell, is to find healthy balance in life so as to avoid the stresses from extremism which shorten our life span. “Moderation in all things” … is the saying we’ve probably all heard. And I enjoy the translators of the NIV version of Eccles. 7: 16-18 coining non-words, like “overrighteous” or “overwicked” to describe the extremes of life styles which we can choose to be a part of as we live for Christ. These may not be real words; but they communicate the meaning of moving in our lives to find the balance of Godly living which avoids extremism, legalism, and perfectionism.
But a teaching like this one raises questions, which are explored by author/editor Smith. We know that we’re all wicked (see Romans 3: 23). We’re all sinners; so avoiding being overly wicked is certainly an extreme I can see we should avoid. However, what about the admonition in today’s passage to avoid being “overrighteous?” Is it ever the case that believers should tone down our efforts to be sinless? Didn’t Jesus, as Smith points out, say (in Matt. 5: 48), Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect? And that one caused me to pause a bit when thinking about today’s lesson from Ecclesiastes; because I’d certainly like to be a sinner who is striving hard to become like the model of “sinlessness” we have in our Savior, Jesus. And I know that God’s Spirit has been imparted into my heart to help reshape me, through sanctification, into my Lord’s image.
So, what about the words in Solomon’s teachings to avoid being “overrighteous?” Well, I agree with Dr. Smith that the answer lies in THE EFFORT to be sinless, not the aspiration toward sinlessness. Have you ever known someone, likely a very insecure Christian, who became “burned out” from mind-numbing and body-draining efforts to be perfect? This is the person who can – in their own eyes – never be good enough? And when we see such a person, we can reasonably say that we’re observing “graceless” perfectionism and a person who’s captured in the tentacles of legalism.
God’s grace, which was modeled by Jesus, is a life of balance between grace and truth; and that should be the life we live … with enough grace in our lives to forgive our own foibles and with a pursuit of truth which drives us into a lifestyle of worship where obedience to Christ’s commands is our goal and prize. We can avoid the extremes of self righteousness where legalism becomes a lifestyle. And hence, here is the self examination question, Smith uses to get us to look at ourselves in this regard: ”From what I honestly know of myself, do I need to be far more harsh with myself … or far more gentle?” And I’ll charge you to answer that one for yourself as I pray for myself.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, help me to be diligent in my commitment to be more like You; but give me the grace to forgive myself, as You do, when I fall short. Amen
For Scriptural Comparison: Ecclesiastes 7: 16 - 18… NKJV 16 Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time?
My Journal for Today: Yes, there are PROVERBS in the book of Ecclesiastes as well as those in the Book of Proverbs, both attributed to the teachings of Solomon. So, what’s the difference? Well, the answer lies partly in when they were written in Solomon’s life. Proverbs was written much earlier in Solomon’s reign, very likely for a younger father to impart what wisdom God had entrusted with him to his first born son, his family, and Gods’ people. But Ecclesiastes was written to impart wisdom to all of God’s peoples from a King who had lived many years in disobedience to God’s law and His commands to Kings of His chosen people. In Ecclesiastes these are the proverbs of experience rather than the teachings of anticipation we find in Proverbs.
Solomon had learned, by this time in his life, important lessons from life about life; and he was compelled, and I believe Spirit-led – to document those lessons into the Book of the Teacher, which we call “Ecclesiastes.” And today one of those lessons, which teacher Smith focused upon, had to do with doing what we can to avoid extremes in our life. The lesson, in a nutshell, is to find healthy balance in life so as to avoid the stresses from extremism which shorten our life span. “Moderation in all things” … is the saying we’ve probably all heard. And I enjoy the translators of the NIV version of Eccles. 7: 16-18 coining non-words, like “overrighteous” or “overwicked” to describe the extremes of life styles which we can choose to be a part of as we live for Christ. These may not be real words; but they communicate the meaning of moving in our lives to find the balance of Godly living which avoids extremism, legalism, and perfectionism.
But a teaching like this one raises questions, which are explored by author/editor Smith. We know that we’re all wicked (see Romans 3: 23). We’re all sinners; so avoiding being overly wicked is certainly an extreme I can see we should avoid. However, what about the admonition in today’s passage to avoid being “overrighteous?” Is it ever the case that believers should tone down our efforts to be sinless? Didn’t Jesus, as Smith points out, say (in Matt. 5: 48), Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect? And that one caused me to pause a bit when thinking about today’s lesson from Ecclesiastes; because I’d certainly like to be a sinner who is striving hard to become like the model of “sinlessness” we have in our Savior, Jesus. And I know that God’s Spirit has been imparted into my heart to help reshape me, through sanctification, into my Lord’s image.
So, what about the words in Solomon’s teachings to avoid being “overrighteous?” Well, I agree with Dr. Smith that the answer lies in THE EFFORT to be sinless, not the aspiration toward sinlessness. Have you ever known someone, likely a very insecure Christian, who became “burned out” from mind-numbing and body-draining efforts to be perfect? This is the person who can – in their own eyes – never be good enough? And when we see such a person, we can reasonably say that we’re observing “graceless” perfectionism and a person who’s captured in the tentacles of legalism.
God’s grace, which was modeled by Jesus, is a life of balance between grace and truth; and that should be the life we live … with enough grace in our lives to forgive our own foibles and with a pursuit of truth which drives us into a lifestyle of worship where obedience to Christ’s commands is our goal and prize. We can avoid the extremes of self righteousness where legalism becomes a lifestyle. And hence, here is the self examination question, Smith uses to get us to look at ourselves in this regard: ”From what I honestly know of myself, do I need to be far more harsh with myself … or far more gentle?” And I’ll charge you to answer that one for yourself as I pray for myself.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, help me to be diligent in my commitment to be more like You; but give me the grace to forgive myself, as You do, when I fall short. Amen
Saturday, August 29, 2009
2009 – Day 240.Aug 29 – God Is In Control
Passage of the Day: Job 12 … Linked for study …
My Journal for Today: Don’t you just love our hero, Job! And what Job brings to the table in Chapter 12 is a model for any who’ve had to deal with the contentions or claims of legalists, … those who claim that they have a corner on understanding and wisdom but who represent darkness and doubt. And that is what Job had to listen to in the previous diatribe by Zophar and his other so-called “friends.”
Chuck Swindoll points out that LEGALISM often presents its ugly head in the form of cohorts of believers who act like bullies on the playground trying to take over the basketball court by intimidation. And it’s always interesting to see that a few loud bullies can draw a crowd of weaklings to themselves; and they can take over the playground unless someone is willing to stand up to them.
And that’s exactly what Job did here in Chapter 12; and don’t you just love the sarcasm of his open rebuke of Zophar, where he says, poetically and powerfully, in verse 1, “No doubt you are the people, … And wisdom will die with you!” And then Job goes about taking a stand up for what he believes is truth; and that is what we are commanded to do in God’s word by 1st Peter 3: 15 … to have an answer for those who challenge the truth of God’s word or misrepresent His truth. Now, I don’t exactly know if Job’s retort of Zophar fit into the latter part of Peter’s exhortation to confront our adversaries in “meekness.” However, he did have an answer for his three friends who were trying to place the legalists finger-pointing blame on Job, questioning his faith and his past life.
But as we can read here in today’s passage, Job didn’t let the legalists have their day. And I love the word picture Swindoll presents in explaining the importance of not letting legalistic bullies have their way. He says legalists are like roaches. They crawl around in the darkness and proliferate by feeding on the ooze of distrust and misunderstanding with gossip and half-truths. And if they are not brought out and confronted with the light of truth, they will gain strength and numbers. But Job, in Chapter 12, gave these three bully boys a dose of truth and light with his argument that God is the source of all truth; and that even when the circumstances of life seem out of control, God is in complete control. And Job shined the light on these roaches in the darkness of innuendo and doubt with forcefulness and truthfulness.
And Swindoll is right by extending the word picture of legalist bullies. When they are confronted with the light, you will see them run and hide. And that is when you often see splits in churches which are caused by legalists who, when they can’t get their way, will take their numbers and run to another church with their dogma of doubt and despair. But God will bless those who stand for right and righteousness, which is what good Christians must do when they are confronted by legalism in the church. And Job becomes a good model for this by his arguments today.
So, my friend, when you are confronted by the darkness of legalism, stand for God’s truth with love and with as much gentleness as God’s grace can give you; BUT … STAND and be heard and counted for truth. For, dear one, the light always dispels the darkness; and God’s will, which is found in His word, will always help the believer find God’s way to lead his people through that “valley of the shadow of death.”
My Prayer for Today: Lord, help me to shine Your light into the darkness of misunderstanding and doubt. Amen
My Journal for Today: Don’t you just love our hero, Job! And what Job brings to the table in Chapter 12 is a model for any who’ve had to deal with the contentions or claims of legalists, … those who claim that they have a corner on understanding and wisdom but who represent darkness and doubt. And that is what Job had to listen to in the previous diatribe by Zophar and his other so-called “friends.”
Chuck Swindoll points out that LEGALISM often presents its ugly head in the form of cohorts of believers who act like bullies on the playground trying to take over the basketball court by intimidation. And it’s always interesting to see that a few loud bullies can draw a crowd of weaklings to themselves; and they can take over the playground unless someone is willing to stand up to them.
And that’s exactly what Job did here in Chapter 12; and don’t you just love the sarcasm of his open rebuke of Zophar, where he says, poetically and powerfully, in verse 1, “No doubt you are the people, … And wisdom will die with you!” And then Job goes about taking a stand up for what he believes is truth; and that is what we are commanded to do in God’s word by 1st Peter 3: 15 … to have an answer for those who challenge the truth of God’s word or misrepresent His truth. Now, I don’t exactly know if Job’s retort of Zophar fit into the latter part of Peter’s exhortation to confront our adversaries in “meekness.” However, he did have an answer for his three friends who were trying to place the legalists finger-pointing blame on Job, questioning his faith and his past life.
But as we can read here in today’s passage, Job didn’t let the legalists have their day. And I love the word picture Swindoll presents in explaining the importance of not letting legalistic bullies have their way. He says legalists are like roaches. They crawl around in the darkness and proliferate by feeding on the ooze of distrust and misunderstanding with gossip and half-truths. And if they are not brought out and confronted with the light of truth, they will gain strength and numbers. But Job, in Chapter 12, gave these three bully boys a dose of truth and light with his argument that God is the source of all truth; and that even when the circumstances of life seem out of control, God is in complete control. And Job shined the light on these roaches in the darkness of innuendo and doubt with forcefulness and truthfulness.
And Swindoll is right by extending the word picture of legalist bullies. When they are confronted with the light, you will see them run and hide. And that is when you often see splits in churches which are caused by legalists who, when they can’t get their way, will take their numbers and run to another church with their dogma of doubt and despair. But God will bless those who stand for right and righteousness, which is what good Christians must do when they are confronted by legalism in the church. And Job becomes a good model for this by his arguments today.
So, my friend, when you are confronted by the darkness of legalism, stand for God’s truth with love and with as much gentleness as God’s grace can give you; BUT … STAND and be heard and counted for truth. For, dear one, the light always dispels the darkness; and God’s will, which is found in His word, will always help the believer find God’s way to lead his people through that “valley of the shadow of death.”
My Prayer for Today: Lord, help me to shine Your light into the darkness of misunderstanding and doubt. Amen
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