It's a funny word isn't it - 'law'. But lets take it as 'rules which govern behaviour'. What I can do and what I can't do.
I've only just recognised that I live under quite a lot of laws - these are self-created, self-imposed, and must, must, must be adhered to. Let me give you a flavour of them...
- I will not sit on the sofa and relax at the weekend until all the jobs (chores) are done (evening relaxation is permitted though - once the children are in bed)
- I will not buy clothes for myself unless they are a) bought from a charity shop, b) in a sale with a very good reduction c) essential (e.g. undies)
- I will not enjoy a less-than-very-healthy meal without feeling guilty about the calories
(Of course, with a busy family home the jobs are never all done so weekends end up being far from restful and relaxing.)
As I write these laws down I realise that even this - naming them and recognising them - is a new experience. They are so much part of my life that I couldn't even see them. They governed my behaviour without me even consciously realising it. A bit like a conditioning that was going on without me even knowing it was happening.
But I'm a follower of Jesus. Jesus was God made flesh who came to us because we couldn't reach him. And Jesus came to free us from our failure to abide by the law. See what it says in Romans 8 in the Bible:
"there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering."
As imperfect people we were never able to meet God's requirements for holy living, we always got it wrong, failed, sinned. So Jesus came to free us from a law we could not keep. He took our punishment for law-breaking on himself so that we could be free.
Galatians 5 says:
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
A yoke is a metal harness which would have been placed around the neck of an animal or person as they strained to pull a heavy load.
So...
I am free! My freedom has been bought with a great price. I am free to live, to be joyful, to relax, to laugh, to work, to learn, to sit down and to run, to enjoy God's provision and blessings, to eat food I enjoy, to buy pretty things, to sit on the sofa on a Saturday afternoon and watch a film.
Because of his great love and the Holy Spirit that lives in me I will want to be more and more like Jesus - it will bring me ever increasing joy. I will want to be kind and generous, to live responsibly, to fulfil my commitments, to be a blessing to others. So why do I need my rules?
I don't need rigid, self-imposed rules
You don't need them either
The price has been paid - our loving heavenly Dad wants us to enjoy his provision. It would break my heart if, when my daughter had done something wrong and had a telling-off, when I had told her I forgave her and gave her a hug, if she continued to grieve her misdemeanour and punished herself. If this continued, no matter how many times I told her - you are forgiven, you are free from any ill-feeling, be happy!
This is the beginning of a new chapter for me - I'm going to become a law-breaker!
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