Mark 2:27  Then Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made to serve us; we weren’t made to serve the Sabbath. (The Message)

There’s this main street that passes the entrance to our neighborhood, and just about 150-200 yards from our entrance this street tees up to a main highway. There is, of course, a traffic light at the intersection and just around the corner, or in the bank parking lot right on the corner, a policeman has found his home away from home. It so happens that many people have become used to those turning lanes at many stoplights, where you can just keep moving around the corner into a merging lane of the street to which you’re turning. Lanes like those have actually become very common and useful where we live as they help tremendously to keep traffic moving and reduce backup at intersections. The problem with our little intersection, though, is that no such lane exists, and while there is a turning lane, a complete stop must be reached whenever the light is red before progress can be made around the corner. Well, enforcement of this little rule has been turned into one of our city’s most revenue generating operations. Not only is there the possibility of violating the ‘complete stop’ rule, but if the turn isn’t executed correctly by turning into the nearest lane there is another reason for the donut and coffee to be set down and the siren and lights turned on. To the great frustration of so many, there is a very expensive driving school taking place on the side streets right after this intersection where motor vehicle operators are getting to know their well-fed instructor and pay highly for the little lesson he mercilessly gives. While there are very definite safety reasons for the details of the laws about making the turn, there is this growing perception that what has been written and designed to serve the people on our streets has become a means by which the people can serve the monetary needs and ticket quota of the city.

To follow the path of righteousness is to encounter intersections and passages with very clear directives that have really been formed to serve us in our safety and preservation. Just as the rules to correct turning will, for the one who embraces and practices them, greatly increase the chances of safe passage, so keeping of the Sabbath, paying tithe, holding fast to confession and many other things will enable us to successfully fully our purpose and enjoy the blessings and healthy fruit of righteousness. To fully appreciate the purpose for which directives have been given in Christ, though, is to remain in a position and understanding that each one of the rules of the spiritual, holy and righteous rules are in place to serve us and not we them. When they become a means of wielding a sense of hopeless condemnation, where an exorbitant price is being continually being extracted with a wary and worried eye ever out for the violation police, their purpose of improved and liberated living is being undermined and dislodged. With a constant consciousness of what might be wrong or even how much might be right, there is misplaced focus from the One who designed them and who will best teach, help and motivate us fulfill and enjoy their true purpose. Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath (verse 28) and it will be from Him that productive and encouraging correction will come that will not depress of condemn, but will propel and free those who become consumed with knowing Him and His ways.

There is a way of living today that is meant to serve and produce an incredible, bountiful, and blessed life in Christ. Serving this way alone, though, is to miss its purpose and become a servant and in bondage to it. As each embraced directive, however, becomes a means and part of knowing, loving and serving Jesus, there will be a joy and freedom associated with its compliance that will, as it becomes worship to Him, enhance and magnify a relationship with the Lord of all. Instead of being consumed and dominated by compliance to the details of behavior, their true purpose and function will be fulfilled in the heart that has embraced their Designer. To be in Christ is to know no condemnation (Romans 8:1) and His grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9) so that the way to all that is promised in Him will be known not by our successful keeping of every law and rule, but by our heart felt submission to His leading in every way. Serving not a way that is subject to interpretation and debate, but a Lord who has our welfare, future and purpose in His hand is to safely and joyfully experience the abundance of life He came to give us.

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 6th, 2008 at 8:48 am and is filed under Direction, Discipline, Encouragement, Holiness, Knowing God, Promise, Righteousness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.