How well would it work if love was law? Imagine a husband and wife compiling their "love list" - specific things to be done to qualify their love for one another. Each would be expected to regularly comply with the minimum requirements or else the marriage covenant would be null and void. Not much of a basis for a loving marriage!
Fact is, it's all too easy to have this kind of relationship with our Creator Father. In looking at the so-called "sundry laws" of God contained in books like Leviticus, it is easy to reduce relationship to ritual. Obedience to God is measured with meticulous law-keeping rather than heart-felt devotion.
The religious leaders, in the days of Jesus' earthly life, had digressed from sincere devotion to obligatory compliance. They had even gone so far as to create law loopholes for their own convenience! (i.e., Matthew 23:13-35). The spirit of the law was lost amidst the letter of the law.
When asked concerning the greatest commandment, Jesus succinctly replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40) A lack of wholehearted love for our Father and our neighbor renders every commandment and teaching of Scripture null and void.
Relationships are not ultimately defined by compliance to lists. Healthy marriages are characterized by unselfish acts of kindness and generosity, motivated by unconditional love. Similarly, our relationship with our Father is best served through unselfish acts of devotion, motivated by loving gratitude. Obligatory service is satisfying neither to us or our Father.
May the joy of loving and grateful devotion to your Father, through His Son, our Savior, be yours in abundance today.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
Fact is, it's all too easy to have this kind of relationship with our Creator Father. In looking at the so-called "sundry laws" of God contained in books like Leviticus, it is easy to reduce relationship to ritual. Obedience to God is measured with meticulous law-keeping rather than heart-felt devotion.
The religious leaders, in the days of Jesus' earthly life, had digressed from sincere devotion to obligatory compliance. They had even gone so far as to create law loopholes for their own convenience! (i.e., Matthew 23:13-35). The spirit of the law was lost amidst the letter of the law.
When asked concerning the greatest commandment, Jesus succinctly replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40) A lack of wholehearted love for our Father and our neighbor renders every commandment and teaching of Scripture null and void.
Relationships are not ultimately defined by compliance to lists. Healthy marriages are characterized by unselfish acts of kindness and generosity, motivated by unconditional love. Similarly, our relationship with our Father is best served through unselfish acts of devotion, motivated by loving gratitude. Obligatory service is satisfying neither to us or our Father.
May the joy of loving and grateful devotion to your Father, through His Son, our Savior, be yours in abundance today.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
posted by steve @ 9:05 AM
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