Love and Order

For us to live in a world of order instead of chaos, we need rules to live by every day. There are rules for traffic, school, home, work, and community. However, we must be careful to balance order with God’s commandment to love Him with all of our hearts and love one another. If we aren’t careful, we can make it easier to follow rules than to follow the leading of the Spirit to love God and people.

In Jesus’ day the Pharisees and Sadducees were excellent at following the rules beyond what God intended for the people. They were trapped by their own measurement of spirituality rather than God’s tender grace and mercy. As a result, they were vicious in their attacks against Jesus as He constantly revealed the futility of their rules in light of God’s love.

Jesus’ strictest rebuke was toward the religious leaders of that day. They were held in high honor for their outward acts of piety and religious duties. Yet, Jesus called them hypocrites, blind guides, full of greed and self-indulgence, whitewashed tombs filled with dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. (Matthew 23)

May it never be said that the body of Christ “outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23:28) We need church leaders who balance order in the faith with agape love. (1 Corinthians 14:40) When we sense genuine love and concern for our wellbeing along with balanced order, ministries become more engaged in evangelism and discipleship. It’s our love with balanced Christian traditions that draws others to know the living Christ.

Rules are necessary to bring order to our lives. Yet in our Christian journey, our rules rooted in love for God and one another will encourage us in the faith.

Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to balance rules and order with the agape love of God in my home, church, and work. In Jesus’ name, amen

In His Service,

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