Galatians 3:10
‘For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.”’
As I read this, I have no problems. However, I wasn’t raised with the Law being my all in all. Our jewish brothers and sisters have. Then they hear that what they’ve been raised with wasn’t enough. What about their parents and grandparents, beloved family members. Can they be lost?
These are unanswerable questions. God knew their hearts. He loved them more than we ever could. It’s possible they were reached without our knowledge. We can’t let those tough questions keep us from God. Like most burdens, we have to lay them at altar.
I want to focus on what the chosen people had to do. That is to lay aside something sentimental. In the end, the law still has a place. They are still important principles to be kept. It’s just that our salvation isn’t resting on our keeping them, but through the death of Christ. It’s more of a shift than an abandonment.
This change actually brings great freedom. Peter said in Acts 15:10, “Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?” The law as a means of salvation is impossible. We are imperfect. We break it in practice.
John gives further insight into the impossibility of keeping the law. That is the thought life. He says in I John 3:15 says, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” This increases our guilt factor. It becomes clear that we all are disqualified. By Jesus removing the law as a means of salvation was great news.
Are we holding on to sentimental things? We may not be aware that they are harming us? It’s possible that they won’t need to be abandoned, but reprioritized. I had to do this with music. As a young christian I was listening to artists that were not edifying. I had to give them up. At the time I thought it was to give them up completely. It actually meant at times I needed to turn it off on occasion. Just as the law was reprioritized, so the music I heard was treated the same say.
What was the result of giving up or the adjustment of these things? It was peace. We have a war within us. The Holy Spirit prompts us to give Him control. We rarely give in without a fight. Certainly in the early days of our faith. As we mature, we trust Him more. The resistance is much less. In time, we give in instantly. It’s all because we’ve come to know Him. It’s also nice to be flooded with that peace that He gives.
Romans 8:16 speaks of the relationship we have with the Lord. “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” We become addicted to the great joy and peace that we have in Him. The loving comfort of being at peace with Him is like no other. We learn that anything in this life isn’t so dear as the comfort of HIs presence.
One line of the song, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, go as follows: “and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” That’s like trading trash for silver. There isn’t a real comparison.
Lord, help us to have a light grasp on things. Help us to give in much more quickly. Thank You for the peace that You provide.