Relationships Over Rules
Do you remember that kid in school who always followed the rules? You know the one that asked the teacher “are we taking the quiz that you mentioned yesterday? Because the class is almost over?” There you are praying that the teacher would forget and they bring it up. Great here comes another 4 out of 10. Momma ain't gonna be happy.
Some people love rules. They begin to focus more on the rules than the object that the rules are based on. The rule follower cares more about the schedule and plans over the actual class that they are in. Jesus experienced this same struggle.
“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40)
In a society that had over 600 different commandments, Jesus comes in and shares two. Two commandments for us to live by. Jesus shares that it is not a difficult rule following lifestyle that needs to be lived by but a simple life style of love. Now living by these two commandments is not always the easiest, we will still mess up but Jesus is showing us that the Christian life is not one of rules but of relationships. Where in your life are you worrying more about the rules, actions, tasks over the relationship you have with God and others?
The Christian Life Is Not One Of Rules
But Of Relationships
Notice that Jesus did not negate the other laws and demands He was just sharing the heart and core of the Christian life. If you focus and keep these two commandments the other laws and rules will be lived by because they re based off of these two. Too often we (Christians) can look more like we are against people, making rules that are not clear, judging others that don’t play by our rules. Jesus breaks this down and shows that a lifestyle that follows after Him is one that can be looked at with excitement and positivity instead of a list of rules.
Rather than worrying about what we shouldn’t do, we can focus on what we can do. Jesus is calling us to act. To love Him and have a relationship with Him, then to love others, His creation, children. Do you look at your life and schedule and see a lot of rules, plans, tasks or do you see people? Opportunity to live by the second commandment, loving those around you.
Rather Than Worry About What We Shouldn’t Do, We Can Focus On What We Can Do
Stop right now and look at your life. Are you focusing on the rules and tasks or relationships? Make sure your relationship with Jesus is a priority. Get into His word before work, school, the kids wake up or do it after, just do it! Make sure you are caring for those around you. God placed you around others for a purpose; you can encourage, challenge, and keep others accountable. Make sure your relationships with God and others are your priority, and all other things will fall into place.
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