Rules

I don’t consider myself to be a rule breaker. I struggle with some rules but mostly I stay between the lines. My biggest struggle is most often driving the speed limit. I just like to get where I’m going as efficiently as possible. It would be helpful if I would learn that the journey to the destination is also part of the destination. The older I get, the more frequently I think about this.

I grew up NOT working on Sunday – it is the Lord’s Day. We changed the “Sabbath” to the “Lord’s” and applied lots of the rules. I now understand that the Sabbath was designed to help me take a break from work – to rest. We did the same thing with the Lord’s Day that the religious leaders of Jesus’ day did with the Sabbath. Check this out…

²³ One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grainfields, his disciples began breaking off heads of grain to eat. ²⁴ But the Pharisees said to Jesus, “Look, why are they breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?”

²⁵ Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you ever read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? ²⁶ He went into the house of God (during the days when Abiathar was high priest) and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. He also gave some to his companions.”

²⁷ Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. ²⁸ So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!” (Mark 2:23-28 NLT)

This is true with most of the rules and laws. They are passed for our protection and not just to make us miserable. Speed laws are designed to slow us down because there will be accidents. If I’m going too fast, I have less time to react.

I’m learning that I want to be a Jesus’ follower versus a rule/law follower. I believe that I can be both, but I need to make sure that I understand the spirit behind the rule/law.

Self-government without self-discipline leads to self-destruction. The laws are meant for my good. There are occasions when the lawmakers get “out of bounds” and pass laws with unintended consequences. Here in the USA, we are allowed to speak to that and even effect change.  The rules were made for us – we weren’t made for the rules. I do think I should respect the rules and obey the rules. There is a time and place to push back on ridiculous rules.

As I penned that last line, I realize that this whole post could be connected to the “vax or no vax” debate that is going on in our country currently. I don’t watch the news, but I do hear about the debate. I respect both sides of this issue and this is a case in point where the law is meant to serve, but it could in fact cause harm. (I did get the vaccine because the doctor that I’ve been seeking advice from regarding my health for the past several years advised that I do so.)

I do want to be an upright and respectable citizen. I am a Jesus’ follower. I look to Him to direct my decisions and choices. I believe that I can disagree with a rule or law without be disrespectful to the person or persons who penned the law.

Pressing On!

Dwayne