As we bring ourselves into subjection to God's will, we sometimes have to make judgment calls on how we are to apply what He commands. Do we give $10 a week or $100 a week as our contribution? How do we help our brother in need? The danger in any specific application where God has not specified an action is that we are often tempted to take that judgment and hold others accountable to it.
This is perhaps one of the greatest bones of contention that Jesus had with the Pharisees. They elevated their man-made applications to be equal to God's law. And when Jesus broke their rules, they reacted as though God's law itself was broken.
I love how Jesus illustrates this in Matthew 11 when He explains how frustrated He and John the Baptist made the religious leaders:
“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ “(Matthew 11:16-17 ESV).
Just like children who make up rules to a game and then get upset with those who refuse to follow their rules, so did the religious leaders. They had expectations for how people were to act and neither John nor Jesus was playing by their rules. It wasn’t God's rules that John and Jesus were breaking, but their own applications and expectations.
“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” (Matthew 11:18-19 ESV).
But Jesus set the record straight about expectations.
“Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.” (Matthew 11:11a ESV).
The application of what Jesus is teaching us is very important. God has designed His law in a unique way. While there are some commands that are clearly spelled out (we must show hospitality- 1 Peter 4:9), He often leaves the application to us (do we invite people over for a meal or beverages, provide someone a place to stay, take someone out for coffee, or bring someone a meal). The danger we must guard against is confusing our application with God's law and requiring others to carry out His commands our way.
Personally, we need to give grace to each other when it comes to application of God's law when God has not specified application. How much time do we spend reading His Word each day? How many times do we pray? Should we wear a tie to worship? And the list goes on and on. Each of us will apply these things based on our heart. But it is a dangerous thing to equate our heart's decision to God's law and then require that application to others.
As we grow in His grace over time, these personal applications will change. His Word will continue to work in us and convict us. While it is human nature to feel that others should see the merits in our applications to God's Word, let's not give into the temptation of elevating them to the status of God's law.
We can tithe down to the mint leaf and fast twice a week, which is commendable if we do that in answer to a good conscience before God. But to expect others to do that will turn us into children more concerned with playing a flute and expecting people to dance to our tune than people who are content to honor God's law as written.
I have a King. I kneel before Him daily.
I pay homage to Him. He owns me and all that I have.
I am fearful in His presence because He has all power over me.
There is none who can restrain His hand against me. I am at His mercy, and His alone.
I approach Him daily with my hands outstretched, praying for my daily sustenance.
When He gives to me what seems good to Him, I take it with thankfulness and no complaint.
I have nothing to offer in return. Even my own life is not worth what He deserves.
What I have is all His. I can call nothing my own.
Yet in spite of being poor, weak and full of sin, I have 2 redeeming qualities before the Almighty.
I am made in His image.
He purchased me with His blood.
Apart from this, I have nothing of value before Him.
Because of this, I am priceless before Him.
And this is why
I have a King. I kneel before Him daily.
Do You Have Time To Read The New Testament?
In today’s busy world, time is at a premium, isn’t it? I understand how difficult it can be to find a few minutes here and there to spend in God’s Word. It will take about 18. 5 hours to read through the entire New Testament. But, if it is a worthwhile endeavor in your eyes, let me help you find some precious moments to spend with God speaking to you.
The average Netflix season is less than 10 hours. If you binge watch your favorite shows, you can read the entire New Testament in about the same time you spend watching 2 seasons of bingeable videos.
Are you an avid football fan? The average football game takes about 3.5 hours. In about the same time it takes to watch 5 games, you can get through the entire New Testament.
According to the government (National Center for Biotechnology- October 16, 2020), Americans spend an average of almost 2 hours a day on social media. Pausing our social media activities will get us through the entire New Testament in just over a week.
The average American spends about 1 hour a day behind the wheel. If you multitask and listen to an audio version of the Bible instead of the radio/podcasts, you can get through the entire New Testament in less than three weeks and then get back to your regularly scheduled programming.
Another multitasking opportunity… The average person spends 3.5 hours a week cleaning. Listening to the recorded New Testament will get you all the way through in 5 weeks while doing your household chores.
And finally, the average person spends 8 hours and 48 minutes sleeping (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics). If you get up 30 minutes early, you can get through the entire New Testament in a little over a month.
If we are really motivated to find time to spend in the Word of the Creator, then we can use multiple strategies from above and we’d be surprised at how quickly we can read and re-read His holy Word.
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV).