Devotional Life
Law or Life
But we know that the law is good,
if a man use it lawfully
1 Timothy 1:8 KJV
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Matthew 5:17 NIV
When the love of Christ fills our hearts and minds
We have a desire to do good to all, even help the lawless
Love does not do away with truth
Love helps us walk in truth
We cannot ignore the basic principle of the law
What you sow, that you shall reap
As you and I spend devotional time in God’s Word, let us never become legalistic
Let us never live life because the law is over us
Let us live life because love fills our heart and mind
And our desire is to see people freed from the curse of the law
Rather than being held under it
Yes, we should always hate what is evil and love what is good
But don’t let your heart become hardened
Law or Life
But we know that the law is good,
if a man use it lawfully
1 Timothy 1:8 KJV
From the first book of the Bible…
Genesis and the Garden of Eden
To the last book of the Bible…
Revelation, the end of time,
“law” fills the pages.
You cannot read the Bible and
not be faced with the law.
Law defines in many ways.
The laws of the universe, like the law of gravity.
God’s instruction to Adam and Eve…
To care for the garden and not eat
from the tree of Good and Evil.
Moses and the Ten Commandments…
We read about laws of governments
like the laws of the Medes and Persians.
Also the laws of Rome…
Put Christ Jesus to death.
It is clear to see law has
been used for good and evil.
The Sadducees and Pharisees,
religious leaders, devoted to
God became devoted to law.
Jesus’s ministry became caught up
in great conflict with the Sadducees
and Pharisees over the law.
There has always been a battle
with the law and those who enforce it.
I think we all agree there are
laws we don’t think are right.
And we use laws to prove we are right.
Your devotional time in God’s Word
will cause you to deal with law.
The word in 1 Timothy 1:8 for law
is “nomos” it means “to parcel out”.
It especially was referred
to as parceling out food or
give grazing to animals.
Maybe a good way to look at it
is the principle or law of…
“What you sow, that shall you reap.”
The Scriptures tells us the law is good.
The law also is to lead us to
Christ and justification by faith.
So the law was put in charge to lead us to
Christ that we might be justified by faith.
Galatians 3:24
Yet, the law can be used for evil.
The Sadducees and Pharisees’
devotional time made them legalistic.
Their use of God’s Word brought bondage…
Not liberty.
Jesus clears up the matter in
John 13:34-ff and Matthew 22:36-ff…
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Matthew 22:36-40
We can look at God’s Word as law…
And become critical, judgmental, condemning
and there are consequences in life for our actions.
Or, we can realize we are all condemned
already and need help, a Deliverer, hope.
But we know that the law is good,
if a man use it lawfully;
1 Timothy 1:8 KJV
If we love God and love our
neighbor, we will fulfill the law.
When the love of Christ fills our hearts
and minds we have a desire to do
good to all, even help the lawless.
Love does not do away with truth.
Love helps us walk in truth.
We cannot ignore the basic principle of the law…
What you sow, that you shall reap.
.
As you and I spend devotional time in
God’s Word, let us never become legalistic.
Let us never live life because the law is over us.
Let us live life because love fills our heart and mind.
And our desire is to see people freed
from the curse of the law
rather than being held under it.
Yes, we should always hate what
is evil and love what is good…
But don’t let your heart become hardened.
Scripture Reading
1 Timothy 1:8-17 NIV
8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers — and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
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