The Law of Liberty (16)

At times, when I was a kid, I found my parents to be somewhat unreasonable and hard to live with. Whenever I wanted something with which they didn

Celtic Christians worked hard at building communities dedicated to the pursuit of holiness. Not just monks and other clergy, but lay men and women from all walks of life joined in the effort to grow out of all sinful practices into the liberty and love of God’s Law.

Although the devil has been bound, and certain limits imposed on just how much he may be free to tyrannize humankind (Matt. 12.22-29), still, he’s out there, and we know it.

Over the more than 40 years that I’ve been a Christian, a good many “fads” and “movements” have wafted in and out of the household of faith.

James referred to the Law of God as the “law of liberty.” We have seen how the Law liberates us as people to be all that God intends us to be in soul and body, growing in grace and sanctification, that we might be pleasing to Him in all things.

Fundamental to the tactics of the devil is casting doubt on God’s Word. So we see him in the Garden, challenging the certainty with which Eve explained God’s laws. He does the same thing yet today, causing believers to question the reliability of Scripture by a number of ways.

The devil loves to sow perplexity into the ranks of men. He creates confusion and uncertainty concerning our purpose in life – why we are here and what we can expect to accomplish – and leaves many people thrashing against the unknown in search of something meaningful.

I recall reading an article some time ago that explained the difference between guilt and shame. Both are equally yucky feelings. Either makes us feel dirty, embarrassed, and even a little threatened. The devil loves it when we feel this way, almost as much as when, having become hardened to sin, we don’t feel anything at all.

The Law of Liberty (26)

 It’s curious that David would insert an observation concerning the fear of the Lord into the midst of this meditation on the Law of God. Quite probably “fear” is another way of referring to the Law, since, keeping the Law issues from love for and fear of God (Deut. 10.12).

The latest philosophical fad that has won the hearts and minds of unbelieving speculators and ethicists is that there is no truth. No abiding truth, anyway. Instead, everyone needs to discover whatever “works” for him, to help him get what he wants out of life. Now, to be sure, you can’t just go bullying your way around.

“Too much of a good thing isn’t good for you.” We all heard that as kids from parents who didn’t want us to overindulge on food or TV or whatever. This principle, applied, say, to those little orange candy corns, is certainly sound.

The Law of God is the “Law of liberty.” It sets us free in Christ to know, love, and serve the Lord. It frees us from the tyranny of the devil and his minions. It liberates us to grow into ever-increasing fullness of the salvation that we have in Jesus Christ.