2020 Daily Devotion - Day 189
When I was in middle school (they called it junior high back then), I took a typing class. It was one of the best classes I took in middle school. It gave me a skill I have used all my life. Being able to type with all of my fingers; not having to look at the keyboard has been invaluable. In fact, I am doing it right now.
However, there was one problem with the class. The problem was in how you were graded on typing tests. There was a chart on the wall in the front of the room. It showed you how many words per minute you needed to type in a timed test to get an A, B, C, D or F. In addition, points were marked off for mistakes.
When the first test took place, it initially looked like I was going to get an A (which didn’t happen often for me in my other classes). But then when points were taken off for typing mistakes, I was down to a D grade. I didn’t like this system at all because I thought it missed the spirit of what should be graded.
I believed then, and still do today, the test was discouraging us from improving on the skill we were learning. So, I came up with a unique solution. During the test, I would type up to the point where I would get a very good grade, and then stop. I would sit there for the last part of the test; not typing and my hands folded. At that point, I started getting better grades, however, I was not excelling in learning this new important skill. In theology, there is a name for this kind of thing. It is “legalism”.
I bring this up, because I think the same thing happens in the life of the church; especially with religion. It started with the religious leaders in Jesus’ day. They took the Ten Commandments and turned them into hundreds of rules and regulations. Have you ever noticed how positive the Ten Commandments are? They give us ten things we shouldn’t do, but you can do everything else.
The problem continues to this day. The messages of forgiveness and salvation through the cross of Jesus goes out the door, and many turn it into rules and regulations – they become “legalists”. Others hear the same message and still believe salvation comes about through all of the good things they do, and at least are not as bad as others. Both are missing the point.
Galatians 2:16 ESV
Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
So, we can never be saved by keeping all of the rules. We cannot live up to all God expects, for He expects perfection – just like I couldn’t get an A in typing class by doing it their way. But because Christ, the perfect One, came and paid the price, we have forgiveness and salvation. So, let’s not turn God’s grace into a bunch of regulations. Rather, let’s act in response to our gratitude and thankfulness for what Christ did on the cross.
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, we are prone to turn many things into rules and regulations, even Your grace. Help us to simply embrace Your grace and find a new kind of freedom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
However, there was one problem with the class. The problem was in how you were graded on typing tests. There was a chart on the wall in the front of the room. It showed you how many words per minute you needed to type in a timed test to get an A, B, C, D or F. In addition, points were marked off for mistakes.
When the first test took place, it initially looked like I was going to get an A (which didn’t happen often for me in my other classes). But then when points were taken off for typing mistakes, I was down to a D grade. I didn’t like this system at all because I thought it missed the spirit of what should be graded.
I believed then, and still do today, the test was discouraging us from improving on the skill we were learning. So, I came up with a unique solution. During the test, I would type up to the point where I would get a very good grade, and then stop. I would sit there for the last part of the test; not typing and my hands folded. At that point, I started getting better grades, however, I was not excelling in learning this new important skill. In theology, there is a name for this kind of thing. It is “legalism”.
I bring this up, because I think the same thing happens in the life of the church; especially with religion. It started with the religious leaders in Jesus’ day. They took the Ten Commandments and turned them into hundreds of rules and regulations. Have you ever noticed how positive the Ten Commandments are? They give us ten things we shouldn’t do, but you can do everything else.
The problem continues to this day. The messages of forgiveness and salvation through the cross of Jesus goes out the door, and many turn it into rules and regulations – they become “legalists”. Others hear the same message and still believe salvation comes about through all of the good things they do, and at least are not as bad as others. Both are missing the point.
Galatians 2:16 ESV
Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
So, we can never be saved by keeping all of the rules. We cannot live up to all God expects, for He expects perfection – just like I couldn’t get an A in typing class by doing it their way. But because Christ, the perfect One, came and paid the price, we have forgiveness and salvation. So, let’s not turn God’s grace into a bunch of regulations. Rather, let’s act in response to our gratitude and thankfulness for what Christ did on the cross.
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, we are prone to turn many things into rules and regulations, even Your grace. Help us to simply embrace Your grace and find a new kind of freedom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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