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Home Sections The Daily B.R.E.A.D. June 10, 2009 - Wednesday Meditation (Law of Love)
June 10, 2009 - Wednesday Meditation (Law of Love) PDF Print E-mail
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Written by Bobot Apit   
Monday, 08 June 2009 05:33
W hen I tell someone I am a Christian, what is the image that comes to their mind?  Someone who is legalistic, puritanical and judgmental?  Or someone who is loving, compassionate and embracing?  When we see someone in need, how do we view them?  As an inconvenience, a problem, a burden?  Or a child of God, an opportunity to serve?  When we see someone in need, we really should ask, “What would Jesus do?”

2 Corinthians 3:4-11
Psalm 99:5, 6, 7, 8, 9

M atthew 5:17-19 "Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. (18) For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. (19)Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does  them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
    

* Meditation by Daniel Patrick O'Reilly
 
I have to admit that, on first read, today’s readings were very confusing to me.  In 2 Corinthians, Paul speaks of the ministry of the new covenant as opposed to the ministry of death.  Faith in Christ and guidance by the Holy Spirit as opposed to observing the law.  The psalmist speaks of Moses, Aaron and Samuel hearing the decrees and the law that God gave them.  And in Matthew, Jesus says that he has not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill the law.  Law vs. Spirit.

Son number four had a role recently in the play, Fiddler on the Roof.  In the opening song, Tevya (the papa) sings of tradition.  Rules and roles.  Tradition!  I’m a rules kind of guy.  I like things black and white.  If you do A, you are going to get B.  If you come home late, you will not be going out again very soon.  The problem being, most things are just not black and white.  Tevya draws a line in the sand and is constantly having to re-evaluate that line.  His daughters keep presenting unforeseen circumstances and situations that force Tevya to question and look to his heart for answers.

It isn’t that the law is bad.  The law provides structure.  The law can guide and teach us how to live.  It’s just that it really isn’t about life.  That is where Jesus is such a gift.  Jesus is the perfect model and guide.  I still don’t completely understand how this works, but Jesus enriches life.  Jesus is about things in the heart.  You cannot legislate compassion.  You cannot write laws that force people to be loving and kind.  Christ can guide our hearts in a way that the law cannot.

At the end of the school year, the local sixth grade classes have a track and field day at the high school stadium.  The children are excited to be competing where the “big kids” compete.  It is a fun outing with lots of kids and families in a picnic atmosphere.  Every student has the opportunity to compete in an event.  It doesn’t matter whether you are fast or whether you are in a wheel chair, you can participate in something.  My son, Nattie, was assigned the 1200 meter run.  And he took it very seriously.  Sometimes I worry that my kids are a little too competitive.  Nattie logged over 100 miles in practice and preparation.  He was excited to represent his school and confident he would win.  At the end of the race, Nattie had not won.  When he came back up into the stands I could tell he was very upset.  He was angry at himself.  He thought he had run a bad race and let his classmates down.  His chin sank to his chest and he began to cry.  My reaction, as a father, was to hug Nattie, but for some reason I hesitated a moment.  It was one of those special moments that brands your heart.  Nattie’s classmates surrounded him.  They wrapped their arms around him, consoled him, assured him he had done a great job and offered him snacks and drinks.  Their kindness and compassion brought tears to my eyes.

This is the way it should be.  This is what Christ would have done and, as the body of Christ, this is what we should do.  When I tell someone I am a Christian, what is the image that comes to their mind?  Someone who is legalistic, puritanical and judgmental?  Or someone who is loving, compassionate and embracing?  When we see someone in need, how do we view them?  As an inconvenience, a problem, a burden?  Or a child of God, an opportunity to serve?  When we see someone in need, we really should ask, “What would Jesus do?”

My prayer today is for guidance and the strength to be more like Christ.


Supplementary Reading
Let Freedom Ring

If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. – John 8:36



T he United States of America was based and built on freedom—something we hold dear as a democracy. People throughout the centuries have fought long and hard to achieve that freedom. Yet there are times when our exercise of freedom undermines the very things many fought so hard to obtain.

Freedom comes with a price. Many have paid the ultimate price for freedom with their lives in service to our country. Their service offers us an opportunity to worship freely, hear God's word taught openly, live in peace, and pursue life, liberty and happiness.

Today, let's also remember the price Christ paid on the cross for us, thereby setting us free us from the tyranny of sin in our lives. True freedom comes from personal sacrifice, personal surrender, and personal service. So let freedom ring!



* * *
Thank the people in your life today who have made it possible for you to enjoy all the freedoms you do because they've made a sacrifice for you (this might include someone in the military, a family member…and certainly, God).
* * *
    
Note:  This excerpt was taken from the "Power for Life Daily Devotional"

GOD BLESS US ALL!

PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.




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