Press the arrow to listen to Hillsong Church sing “The Deep of Your Grace” while reading today’s journal about grace.
Scripture This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Galatians 3:2
Observation
There is so much of my life that is guided by by three painful sentences:
I ought to.
I should have.
I must do.
When I try to live up to any of these sentences, my life becomes ugly. Those around me are made to feel resentful or restless. They will join me in trying to do more to be more.
I may have learned these sentences from my parents, my teachers, my bosses, my critics and anyone else who made me live up to expectations. Legalism isn’t something learned in Sunday School; it is the stuff that life is marinated in. Until we experience love in Jesus, we all try to do something to feel better about ourselves. That is the ugly side of using rules to feel more valuable.
Legalism repels the Holy Spirit. When I live that way he can’t come near. He doesn’t want to be near. But when I let Christ love me without trying to improve myself or to live up to expectations the power of the Holy Spirit flows through my life.
Application
Legalism is sneaky. I feel it creeping up on me when smile brighter to impress or drive faster so as not to disappoint. When those moments come I feel the Holy Spirit depart. But when I let Christ take me just as I am, power flows. I want to live there.
Prayer Father, would you run a u-v light over my life and show me the traces of legalism that crop up. Help me to live by grace so others around me stand a chance to live by grace too. Amen.
Press the arrow to listen first to a remarkable story of God’s work at New Life Church, Colorado Springs, CO where I pastor. Then follow that with the second clip that sings the song that came out of the story of “Overcome”.
Scripture But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead him away to water him? And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As He said this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him. Luke 13:15-17
Observation
Manmade rules make perfect sense until Jesus comes into the room. Churches post all kinds of signs that are very logical. Here are some that I’ve seen:
“No eating or drinking in the auditorium.”
“Skateboarding is not allowed.”
“We do not want your children if they are sick.”
There are many other rules that don’t get posted, but everyone knows. Those who don’t know them, quickly pick up where the electric fences of church life are and comply.
Jesus, however, did not. Religion lays more rules onto people; Jesus takes senseless rules away. How refreshing, that after 18 miserable years of attending a church that did her more harm than good, that an elderly grandma was set free from her osteoporosis! At last, church was the place to be and the Sabbath was a day to enjoy.
But, alas, rule-lovers are indifferent to miracles but indignant about infractions. The rules had been broken and they were angry. Jesus, however, humiliated them by showing that their rules gave more kindness to a cow than to a woman.
Application
There are times I feel the judge’s robe creeping over me and before long I start creating rules to make my life more comfortable. But do my rules make God comfortable? Jesus wanted a synagogue where people could get better on the Lord’s day. If I create rules that keep his life from coming then I too must be humbled by my inconsistencies. Places of grace are also places where healing takes place.
Prayer Father, I’m not sure if I’ll ever be totally free from legalism in this life. There are so many echoes in my mind of waging tongues of the past. There are so many pet peeves that I have. But stick with me and stick your finger in my face when I start loving the rule book more than your look of mercy shown to those in need. Amen.
Worship as you read this devotion by pressing the arrow. Song: Twila Paris Daughter of Grace
Scripture Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.
For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you. Galatians 2:24-29
Observation
Expectations are a disability. People have expectations of us and we try to achieve them. Even when we are not working we are fretting about ways to live up to expectations or escape from them. Even more disabling, we have expectations of ourselves. Those are the hardest to live up to. They are often hitched to old family mottos, echoing words from parents or teacher from years gone by, or a dream that has held us for ransom all of our lives. Of course, the most demanding expectations of all are those God has for our lives. Those none of us can achieve.
The Bible word for expectations is “the law”. Paul did not mean by “the law” simply the words Moses wrote; the phrase means any attempt to use the law to gain God’s approval. The law was not given to save us but to reveal that we need a savior. The law is a babysitter we endure until daddy comes home with grace.
Most of us spend our whole lives either trying to live up to expectations or by running away from them. Either way, we still feel this tug inside that what we are is not good enough and that we need to work harder to get there. We become tense, driven, compulsive, striving, stressed, impatient, dissatisfied, and discontented. The bottom line problem is that we are working for acceptance rather than from acceptance. We imagine that some achievement out there somewhere will give us the resting place we are searching for. Until then we are restless searching for it.
Application
When I really follow Christ I am set free from expectations. I don’t need a babysitter any more; I have a Father who rejoices over me. What would happen in my life if I stopped measuring my days in terms of either “getting there” or “slipping away” and rested in the acceptance of God that I am “already there”. My ministry would be marked with security, grace, kindness, patience, endurance with joy and more. Everything changes when we work from acceptance rather than for acceptance. God has no expectations for me when it comes to receiving his love. Sure there is potential he calls me to develop, but the first order question is already solved: I am loved. Now I must work from the security of that. Maybe the reason I’ve been allowed to live up to expectations so long is to bring me to this point of releasing them into the acceptance of the Lord.
Prayer Father, it is a lightheaded feeling to stand in you presence without expectations. There is constantly a sense that we should be doing something or doing more to please you, yet your smile and emanating love tell me that all of that is a waste of time. You simply want me to be with you, just as the disciples were with Jesus. I accept your acceptance. That is the core of faith. Today, I chose to work from that. Amen.
Worship as you read this devotion by pressing the arrow. Song: Desperation Band Promises
Scripture
‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’ “For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.” Mark 7:7
Observation
Littered across the salt pan of the Arizona deserts are scattered tree logs toasting in the sun. Don’t try to build a night time fire with them to warm yourself from the desert chill, for this is petrified wood. The trees once full of carbon molecules were transformed one drip at a time into stone. What was living was replaced by what is dead.
The same happens in any vital relationship with Christ. There is a trickle through effect that replaces what is real and vital with what is inert.
How does it happen?
In one scenario, a maverick spiritual leader centuries ago read the Bible and called Christians back to a vibrant relationship with God just as the early Christians knew. During that first generation the children of that movement read the Bible and experienced the fire of God. But as one generation gave way to the next, the children and grandchildren quoted the founder rather than going to the foundation in the Bible. Now when the Bible is read adherents want to know how their founder would have interpreted the verse rather than how the Holy Spirit is speaking to them today. It’s petrified wood.
In another scenario, a trend setting pastor discovers the secrets of bringing large numbers of unchurched people to Christ and into the church. There are conferences, books, magazines, DVDs, podcasts and more. Young leaders immerse themselves in the right blogs and imitate everything from preaching to hairstyles. The magazine graphics look cutting edge, but it is petrified wood because group think has replaced the Holy Ghost.
Application
How can I keep the fibers of my relationship with God fresh and alive? How can I keep my ministry from calcifying? The answer is simple: keep close to the source. Be careful not to marinate too long in anything other than the Bible. Read the writings of great historical figures. Enjoy the expansive thoughts of contemporary thinkers. But always keep close to the source. The more we nourish what God is growing in our hearts with what is fresh from the Lord the less likelihood we have of replacing good wood with stone.
Prayer Father, I’m not sure I can see the petrified parts of my relationship with you as Jesus can. While he was on the earth he could see what no one else could. Give me eyes to see it now in my own life. Amen.
I'm Phil McCallum, a husband, father and most of all one of the people Jesus loves. I'm privileged to serve Evergreen Community Church in Bothell, Washington as Senior Pastor where people love enough to believe "it's all about relationships." In 1982 I made a vow to read God's word daily and apply it to life. Each day I write out my reflections. Some days I post those on my blog. It's a little personal but it's my hope it will stir you to go deeper still. Learn how I do my devotions. These are my thoughts and not necessarily those of the ministry I serve. By the way check out the computer study Bible Glo. I highly recommend it.
