The Rule of Law: First Things (14)

Click here to watch a brief video introducing this week’s study.

“You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.” Leviticus 18.5

“Keeping” or, more literally, “guarding” the Law of God begins in the soul, as we daily strive in the Word and by God’s Spirit, to keep our affections, thoughts, and values subordinate to God’s revealed will, beginning in His Law. Such constant vigilance can be a challenge, it’s true, because of the law of sin that continues to work within us, even though we have come to salvation in Jesus Christ (Rom. 7.14-21). Thus, the Scriptures refer to living this way as work, warfare, running a race, doing battle, and so forth.

But though life on God’s terms is difficult, it is not onerous (Matt. 11.30). Rather, we may learn to delight in the Law of God as we grow in love for Him, and in gratitude for our great salvation.

Only God is able to define life on the most blessed and beneficial of terms, life in the fullness of joy and with pleasures forevermore (Ps. 16.11). All our vain attempts to find our way in life apart from God will only leave us disappointed, or worse (Prov. 14.12).  Real life is through faith in Jesus Christ, by dying through Jesus to the wrath of God’s Law, and living in Him unto the righteousness of that Law (1 Jn. 2.1-6). Jesus is the life we seek, and we know His life through faith and obedience, from the inside-out.

So let us guard our hearts, minds, and consciences against the destructive influences of the world, the flesh, and the devil, by filling our souls with the Law of God, leaning on the Spirit to search, teach, and form us into the image of Jesus Christ, walking in daily obedience to God’s Law, and exhorting all around us to do the same. Thus we will know the greatness of God’s Kingdom and fullness of life in Jesus Christ (Matt. 5.17-19).

Next steps – Demonstration: Share with a Christian friend your experience of praying the Ten Commandments. Encourage your friend to begin doing the same.

The Law of God is the soil which, fertilized by the rest of God’s Word and watered by His Spirit, brings forth the fruit of the Christian life. If you’d like to understand this process better, and how to make best use of the Law in your walk with and work for the Lord, order the book, The Ground for Christian Ethics, from our online store.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.