His way is way better than my way . . .

People who say they are not religious do not realize that everyone is. Everyone worships something or follows a philosophy of life that is like serving a god or an idol. Even the dictionary says religion is “a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance.” Whatever it might be, it usually boils down to the words of Sinatra’s hit song, “I did it my way.”

When someone say things like, “I don’t need God” or “I don’t need religion” they are echoing Sinatra. However, many have no idea that “doing it my way” fits a biblical description of sin. This one is found in the Old Testament and also says what God did with it:

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him (refers to Jesus) the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6, comment is not in the text)

I know how easy it is to turn my own way. I’m continually bombarded with Ideas of how to run my life, constantly needing the Word of God to remind me that God’s ways are higher than my ways and His ways lead to peace and joy that glorify Jesus Christ — while mine are designed merely to benefit myself.

It is thought that Colossians was written because of the same problem in the lives of believers in that city. They were being bombarded by those ‘do it yourself’ ideas regarding how to live, ideas that became ‘rules’ or regulations by which they measured themselves. Paul told them:

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled (generously supplied) in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. (Colossians 2:8–10, comment from a Bible dictionary)

They had Christ and were generously supplied with all that comes with knowing Him. Why turn back to relying on themselves? For these Christians, it seemed to be a matter of peer pressure . . .

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (Colossians 2:16–23)

Some were passing judgment on them. “You should do this . . . or that” appealing to the sinful desire to “do it my way” and pulling them into a life of rules. They needed to realize that those rules and regulations from their former way of life were given by God to point them to Christ, to a greater reality, a greater standard. The rules showed them they could not overcome sin. They needed Jesus to forgive their sin, but also gave them perfection, a perfection they could live out by relying on Him in faith for everything.

Christianity is not a DIY religion. It is trusting Jesus for everything from ideas to the ability to carry them out. Rules might make a person seem to be ‘religious.’ Rules are also the reason many deny that they are religious because they don’t want rules. Either way, lives are not changed by rules or by avoiding them. Only Jesus Christ can change who we are!

It takes courage to say no to peer pressure. It also takes faith. Do I really believe that following Jesus will give me an exceptional and satisfying life? The only way to prove it is to do it.

Today is an ordinary vacation day. We are driving to a place we’ve been before, sight-seeing and relaxing. What will following Jesus mean today? In my selfishness, I could be a back-seat driver, be picky about the roads we take, the places we stop, the food we eat, and generally a (nasty word) person. Jesus puts joy in my heart, laughter in my soul, agreeableness in mind, smiles on my face. He stops the indulgence of the flesh and gives life a lift. Yes, I am religious — not based on lists of “You must do . . . and don’t do . . . .” but based on the Savior who lives in me.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, how very thankful I am for You. Far better than rules, You simply set me free from the tyranny of selfishness, from the insistence I must do it my way, into a life that is filled with abundant love, joy, peace and good things. Yes, we have trials and I get tested with temptations and setbacks, but You are always with me, gently getting me back on track. Thank You for the freedom of being Your child!

Today’s thankful list . . .

No rules, just One who rules my life with grace.

A long, lovely trip up the coast and back.

Good food at a place where goats live on the roof and eat the grass up there.

Safety on the road.

A happy fatigue.

Salt-free potato chips.

Fresh water.

Obeying God beats legalism

Legalism is the principle of strict adherence to law or rules to gain salvation. It is more about doing the letter of the law rather than obedience from the heart. It is like the child forced to sit down in the car but says, “I’m standing up on the inside.” Only a legalist seldom recognizes that they believe this doctrine or that they are trying to earn the favor of God. It is easily recognized by others because the legalist insists that everyone else must do what they do.

The doing part is usually not a bad thing though, just rules and restrictions that MUST be followed. Legalism could include: church attendance every time the doors are open, praying each day for at least an hour, women wearing hats to church, not playing games or going anywhere there is fun on Sundays, and a host of other thou shalt and thou shalt nots.

Paul wrote an entire letter (epistle) to the church in Galatia with strong words about legalism. In their case, one problem was the issue of circumcision. This practice identified the Jews as God’s people (obviously only the men) but is not part of what Christians do to identify themselves. Paul explained to the Galatians why those legalists were trying to get them to be circumcised.

For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. (Galatians 6:13–15)

When I read it this morning, I thought of the many legalistic attitudes that are current. Some insist that a pastor must wear a suit and tie on Sunday. Others insist that Christians must speak in tongues, or wear certain clothing, or never play card games, or only sing hymns, and so on. I re-read the above passage with those in mind . . .

“For even those who only sing the old hymns do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you agree with their preference that they may boast that you agree with them. But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither singing hymns counts for anything, or singing choruses, or any other kind of singing because God is in the business of making a new creation out of sinners.”

Put that way, our preferences pale in the light of God’s power to give us a new heart. Out of that heart flows the love of God and a deep desire to share Jesus Christ with those around us. All our old ways and insistence on rule-keeping fades away as the new life brings peace and joy.

I want to please God, but cannot decide what pleases Him without listening to Him. As a writer once said, “Today you might be writing; tomorrow He may ask you to do something else.” That fits my escape from ‘rules’ into the freedom Jesus gives. This Sunday God may ask me to dress up and be in church, but if He asks me to quickly don some jeans and go to the hospital and share the Gospel with a dying friend, grace sends me there and legalism would be disobedience.

The interesting conclusion from these verses is Galatians is that if I spout, “You must do this to please God” by my very words I would be denying the truth of God. I would sin even when I just say it because pleasing God happens only by submitting to His will and not my own ideas!

Law and love and wonder

In the Old Testament, the word “law” is the Hebrew word “torah.” It primarily means “direction, teaching, instruction.” This is not what we normally think when we use this word. For us, it is the regulations whereby a culture or government rules itself. When the law says I cannot drive faster than the posted speed limit, there is some instruction involved, but is mostly laying down a rule that if violated, I will have to pay a fine. The emphasis is “do this or else.”

While many people think that religion is the same, that is a whole bunch of “do this or else” laws, the law of God puts more emphasis on the spiritual principles for life that make life better, richer, more in line with what God had in mind when He created us. That means when God says, “Love your neighbor as yourself” He is not yelling, “If you don’t, you will pay” but implying (among other things) that “This is my ideal for your life.”

This is why the psalmist was excited about the Word of God and the laws of God. In them, he learned a higher kind of life, a greater way to be a human being. He knew that this body of learning was beyond his comprehension though. This is because sin blinds our understanding. For that reason, he prayed this…

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. (Psalm 119:18)

Today’s devotional reading says that conversion to Christianity is a great experience because when God opens our eyes to His law, this recreates the faculty of wonder. Even when His instruction comes with strong rebuke, it can be sweet, beautiful and fresh. Seeing life through the eyes of God opens to us a great wonder. Some say the sky is deeper blue, loved ones more precious. For me, the gospel steadily deepens my sense of wonder at all things around me and deepens my love for life itself.

I once thought life was a journey to enjoy and I dreaded death, but now life is the prelude to eternity and death is its doorstep. I once thought of sin as the big bad things done by other people, but the wondrous law of God showed me sin is a violation of all that God intended for me and makes me unclean in His eyes. Once sin was not vital or even noticed, but now I fight it with all my heart for I want to please the One who died so I could be set free from its grip.

God’s instruction is not a list of rules. It is guidance and direction for life, and shows me how to have joy and peace, a peace too deep for words that is a mystery that humanity can never fathom. In it, even as a Christian with eyes wide open, I can only wonder and be amazed.

My Christian faith and the law of God shows me how His love is at the heart of everything, and with it, wonder is never far away. Most wonderful is that God loves me and His love is permanent, mine forever. The author of today’s reading expresses it this way:

Once we have learned to love Jesus and to experience His love to us, there falls a newness of wonder on everything. I know that God is power—but he may be power and still leave me cold. I know that God is justice—and yet infinite justice can never win my heart. God is love. The world is made in love. Every touch of his hand on me is love—and immediately I cry in adoration, “He will be called Wonderful!”

Love God

Who do I love the most? What activity do I enjoy the most? The author of today’s devotional reading challenges me with this:

If you find yourself beginning to love any pleasure better than your prayers, any book better than your Bible, any house better than God’s, any table better than the Lord’s, any person better than your Savior, anyone better than your soul, a present indulgence better than the hope of Heaven—take alarm!

The Bible is full of commands to love and serve God only. “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3) is the first of the Ten Commandments. Later in their history, God gave His people further description:

The Lord made a covenant with them and commanded them, “You shall not fear other gods or bow yourselves to them or serve them or sacrifice to them, but you shall fear the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm. You shall bow yourselves to him, and to him you shall sacrifice. (2 Kings 17:35–36)

Even though God plainly and repeatedly said it, the people did not do it. Sometimes they tried, but at best, their worship was mixed. “So these nations feared the Lord and also served their carved images. Their children did likewise, and their children’s children—as their fathers did, so they do to this day” (2 Kings 17:41).

Later, when God sent Jesus, a lawyer asked a question to test Him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment” (Matthew 22:35–38).

This love is not an emotion or attraction. It is that agape word that means doing what is eternally best for the one that I love. When God is the object of my love, that love should be expressed in obedience to His will, for that is eternally best. Anything less misses the mark.

To go back to those challenging questions, I must admit that each day I struggle with prayer because my fleshy self does not want to pray. At night, I have two books on my nightstand. One is not the Bible but filled with Scripture and honors the Word of God more than any book I’ve ever read. The other is a John Grisham novel. Last night, I picked up the novel.

The Lord’s table happens once a month in our present church. Comparing that to three meals a day off other tables, I’m pressed to answer which I love the most. As for loving Jesus more than any other person, I think I do, but why do I resist talking to Him? 

As for indulgences, ordinary things like hobbies, enjoying nature, vacations, playing games with family and even shopping give me pleasure. Do I love them more than the hope of heaven? The answer could be also the answer to, “what do I think about the most?”

For this, all I can say is that I’m terribly glad the Word of God also says that we are saved by grace. Keeping the commandments never worked for Israel, and if my spiritual destiny depended on perfect obedience, I would be lost forever. Yes, I should love God and the things of God, but sometimes I don’t. 

I cannot rely on my performance (which is not an excuse, just a fact) but can rely on the love of God for me. Because I fall short, and because God loves me, He sent Jesus to die for my sin, even the sin of not loving the only One who is worthy of this exclusive kind of love. Jesus lives in my heart. He perfectly loves His Father, others, and even me, so that I can depend on Him for everything that God wants from me. That fact alone makes it easier, even delightful to pray, read the Bible, love Him and His people, remember His death, and long to spend eternity with Him.

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Father, You convict me and comfort me. I love You, but not always, and not as much as You deserve. Your Word says that no one loves God until they know and experience Your love for us. All I can ask is that You deepen and perfect the love that I ought to have for You.

Qualifed to run, qualified to win

The best part of the Olympics is the comradery between the competing athletes. No matter what country they are from, many of them rejoice with those who beat them and commiserate with other losers, even in the qualifying rounds. I enjoy the hugs and high fives as much or more than the wins and medals.

One thing that bothers me is disqualifications. Sometimes the winner of a particular competition is bumped out. They must have jumped the gun or done something else wrong, but it is seldom explained; they are simply dropped to the bottom without a score.

The Bible sometimes compares the Christian life with that of an athlete. We too must exercise rigorous discipline if we are going to qualify as God’s runners in our race of godly living and ministry to others. While we do not become Christians by following rules, we must stick to them if we want to successfully serve the Lord.

For instance, if I want to teach others, I must use the Bible, not my own ideas. I must consider the learners and pray for them. If I am going to be generous with my time and money, I must seek the Lord’s guidance and direction about what to do with both; there are far too many needs for me to judge the best places to begin.

In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he describes what is necessary for discipleship. He tells this young pastor that he must “endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” and that “no one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life” because we are to “please Him who enlisted” us in this spiritual battle.

Then in 2 Timothy 2:5, Paul uses another metaphor. He says, “And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.”

Watching the qualifying rounds and an occasional disqualification in these Beijing Olympics reminds me that even though I am not an athlete, I still must pay attention to everything God says. If I try to do things my way, it is definitely not the high way, but more like a recipe for certain disaster.

Certainly this adherence to “the rules” can bring me into conflict. One is the conflict with my own ideas about things. Unless my mind is renewed and transformed by the Lord, I will have selfish motives and personal glory in mind. God does not honor me with victory when I play by those rules.

Another conflict can be with other people. Like playing Scrabble® where it seems easier to make up words for the other person, it also can seem easier to run someone else’s life and ministry. I need to focus on what God tells me to do. I can listen to the input of godly people, but need discernment. If they are playing Scrabble and not paying attention to the Holy Spirit, I could be derailed by a simple desire to please them and do what they say instead of following the Lord’s direction.

Rules. God didn’t save me because I could keep them, but now that He has filled me with Himself, I need to listen and obey my new source of power and motivation—lest I be disqualified from serving Him.