Last month we looked at the law. In terms of God’s Word when we think of the law, we think of the Old Testament and as something that has banished. Jesus said He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matt. 5:17). Jesus fulfilled the law by obeying every bit of it.  He knew we could not do it. He accomplished this feat in our place and made it possible for us to be right with God. This does not mean we do not have to live by God’s law (His Word). We live by it through our relationship with Christ. “It is no longer I who lives, but Christ living in me and the life I live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God” (Gal. 2:20).  It is through faith in Jesus that I am able to abide by God’s Word.

Let’s look at the definition of the words “rule” and “law”.

Rule – (n) an authoritative principle set forth to guide behavior or action (vt.) to exercise controlling authority over somebody or something; to subject something to control or to restrain something (Encarta World English Dictionary)   (n) a law or principle that operates within a particular sphere of knowledge, describing or prescribing what is possible or allowable; a code of practice and discipline for a religious order or community; (v) exercise ultimate power or authority over; be a dominant or powerful factor or force (New Oxford American Dictionary)

  Synonyms – procedure, practice, routine, norm, command, statute, edict, commandment, mandate, requirement

   (Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus)

Law – the system of rules that a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and may enforce by the imposition of penalties (New Oxford American Dictionary)

   Synonyms – regulation, command, directive, statute, rule, order, edict

   (Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus)

We can see by these definitions that a law or rule is given to guide behavior. They are a discipline and something we should practice. Laws and rules are here to direct and to order our lives. In the natural realm every law or rule is not helpful and may have to do with someone trying to control us instead of helping us. In the spiritual realm,

God’s laws have been created to help us and His desire is to have His law govern our lives. God knows what is best for us.

It is like when we were children….our parents had rules for us. We did not always understand or abide by the rules. The older we get the more we seem to understand why these regulations were given and we adhere to them when we have children of our own. As parents we want what is best for our children. How much more does God want what is best for us than we want for our children?

The problem in obeying God is similar to the why we do not obey our parents. It has to do with submitting to authority. Our flesh does not want to yield itself to anyone. It wants to do things its way. Unfortunately, the fleshly way will only bring harm to us, the same way as touching the hot stove when mom said not to does.

When we are submitted to authority, we view rules as something to aid, not hinder us. We abide by the law and we are blessed. The scriptures are very clear about this.

I want to encourage you to love God’s Word and live by it with all of your heart. It will give you life and peace.