Proverbs 15:9
The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD:
But He loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
Our Master, as a true Son of His Father, defined discipleship in the same manner: love of the Master which provokes obedience. He said, If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in His love (John 15:10).
This may sound legalistic, but whereas the Master shunned what we have today coined as ‘legalism’ (legalism: man’s ways and interpretation of applying God’s commandments), he certainly advocated obedience to His Almighty Father. The sad thing is that today any form of faithful obedience to the specific commandments of God is shunned as ‘legalism’. It’s almost like we agree to love God, but we certainly don’t want Him to infringe on our freedom and lifestyle; that would sound politically incorrect of Him. Can you imagine God interfering with our sex and emotional life? With what we do in our free time and when we do it? Even more unimaginable, God trying to tell us what to eat and what not to eat. How dare He! What does He know about life on earth anyways? (Sarcasm intended)
It is funny though, but the Greek concept of deity was of a spiritual being who didn’t interfere too much in our lives as long as people gave them recognition as gods. The Greeks felt that God’s business was above, but that that of below was theirs. The apostle Paul had to deal quite a bit with this “separation of earth and heaven” Greek concept in the Book of Corinthians. Our God is not solely ethereal. He cares about what we do and don’t do. He cares about what we eat and don’t eat. He even cares about how we manage our free time and finances.
When we find it inconvenient to do our Master’s command, the problem is neither with the Master nor His commands. The problem is with us, and our lack of love for Him. To say we love Him, but we don’t want Him to control our lifestyle, is like the girl who is happy to enjoy the fun of dating a rich guy, but doesn’t want to marry him, even less move in with him. Poet Hazel Hartwell Simon expressed it in these words:
“Love makes obedience a thing of joy!
To do the will of one we like to please
Is never hardship, though it tax our strength;
Each privilege of service love will seize!”
Paul expressed it by saying,
The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD:
But He loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
Our Master, as a true Son of His Father, defined discipleship in the same manner: love of the Master which provokes obedience. He said, If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in His love (John 15:10).
This may sound legalistic, but whereas the Master shunned what we have today coined as ‘legalism’ (legalism: man’s ways and interpretation of applying God’s commandments), he certainly advocated obedience to His Almighty Father. The sad thing is that today any form of faithful obedience to the specific commandments of God is shunned as ‘legalism’. It’s almost like we agree to love God, but we certainly don’t want Him to infringe on our freedom and lifestyle; that would sound politically incorrect of Him. Can you imagine God interfering with our sex and emotional life? With what we do in our free time and when we do it? Even more unimaginable, God trying to tell us what to eat and what not to eat. How dare He! What does He know about life on earth anyways? (Sarcasm intended)
It is funny though, but the Greek concept of deity was of a spiritual being who didn’t interfere too much in our lives as long as people gave them recognition as gods. The Greeks felt that God’s business was above, but that that of below was theirs. The apostle Paul had to deal quite a bit with this “separation of earth and heaven” Greek concept in the Book of Corinthians. Our God is not solely ethereal. He cares about what we do and don’t do. He cares about what we eat and don’t eat. He even cares about how we manage our free time and finances.
When we find it inconvenient to do our Master’s command, the problem is neither with the Master nor His commands. The problem is with us, and our lack of love for Him. To say we love Him, but we don’t want Him to control our lifestyle, is like the girl who is happy to enjoy the fun of dating a rich guy, but doesn’t want to marry him, even less move in with him. Poet Hazel Hartwell Simon expressed it in these words:
“Love makes obedience a thing of joy!
To do the will of one we like to please
Is never hardship, though it tax our strength;
Each privilege of service love will seize!”
Paul expressed it by saying,
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Galatians 5:6
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