Embrace the Within no. 184

“For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without [regard to] the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged and condemned by the Law. For it is not those who merely hear the Law [as it is read aloud] who are just or righteous before God, but it is those who [actually] obey the Law who will be justified [Because of one’s personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, God graciously credits His righteousness to the believer. Justification denotes a legal standing with God as designated only by God. God declares a believer to be acquitted or innocent, then designates the believer to be brought into right standing before Him][pronounced free of the guilt of sin and declared acceptable to Him]”(Romans 2:12-13 AMP).

I can’t just hear the Law. I have to obey the Law to be justified. It is great to know a lot of scripture. It is great to go to a church on the weekend. All that is great and good BUT none of that is going to make me obedient. Christianity requires a lot more than those things. Those things, as great as they are, are not examples of a change in me. I need to manifest a change in me to deny myself, take up His cross, and follow Him in obedience. None of those other things matter if I am not different.

I used to spend a lot of time worrying about the rules of being a Christian. I had a really legalistic approach to the faith. Is this okay? Is this a sin? What should I do in this situation? BUT Christianity is a relationship that involves me understanding The Christ enough to internalize the rules as not some list. I need to internalize the relationship as a way of living and not just some legal code. And I think a lot of us are content with saying things like, “Well The Bible doesn’t tell me I can’t do that” and focus more on our walk as a relationship.

I can’t have a solid relationship with whom I don’t understand. I need to get to know those people. I need to listen and hear and learn. Just because my friend never said I shouldn’t do something is not an endorsement of doing that thing. I don’t need to have everything spelled out for me in the terms of my relationship with someone like a contract. I don’t need any witnesses or a notary to have a relationship.

And I need, you need, we need, to stop treating Christianity like a contract. We need to move away from legalism and move into a relationship. And that means something a lot more difficult than a list. It means change. And that takes courage. Courage is choosing to change.

I pray that I move away from lists and move into a relationship with God. I pray that I listen, hear, and learn all that He has for me to understand. I pray that I obediently follow whatever He has for me to do. I pray that I deny myself, take up His cross, and follow Him obediently. I pray that my relationship with Him is an example for my home, my community, and my world.

Grace and Shalom to your home.

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH