Matthew 5:18
For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
James 2:10
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
Devotion
According to Jesus, the Law is still a standard. We are not free to break the Mosaic Law. The Law still reveals to me that I cannot measure up to God’s standard. This drives me to the cross of Christ daily. The only way I can fulfill the Law is by trusting the only One who could fulfill it—Jesus Christ. Throughout His ministry, Jesus pointed this fact out to the religious leaders. They thought they were obeying the letter of the Law. Often, Jesus reminded them that they were violating the very heart of the Law. You see, they misunderstood the purpose of the Law. It was not given to save, but to reveal.
As believers, it is said, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (Galatians 5:18). Paul writes in Romans chapter eight, “because through Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” As followers of Jesus, we no longer live under the consequences of the Law. We have been given the righteousness of Jesus when we put our trust in Him. This does not mean that the Law is abolished. This means that we are “justified” before God. Because we are justified by God, we are no longer subject to the penalty of sin. But now we are called to a higher standard of living, “being led by the Spirit.” The Spirit of God reveals the deep things of God. As a believer, I must strive supernaturally to live out the heart of the Law as Jesus did. The Spirit of God convicts the world of sin and enables us to glorify God when we surrender our will and our ways to Him.
The grace of God is not a license to sin all you want! Paul warns about such irresponsible behavior. He writes, “Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature…” His solution to this reckless behavior is, “live by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” So, in summary, the Law is still good. It still serves its original purpose to reveal sin in the human heart. This is true for the believer and the non-believer alike. The Law is good and will continue to fulfill its purpose until “everything is accomplished.” One day Jesus will return to establish His kingdom here on earth. When this happens, all will be accomplished, and the King will make all things new!
Questions to Ponder:
Do you ever take God’s grace for granted? Do you sometimes miss the heart of the Law while working on carrying out the letter of it? Do you believe the Law is still good? What does it mean to be led by the Spirit?
Prayer Points
- Ask the Lord to bring to your remembrance of a time when you took His grace for granted. Bring that to Him and tell Him You are sorry.
- Ask the Lord to help You keep short accounts with Him throughout the day today.
- Find a verse in the bible to help You today. Mediate on the verse(s) throughout the day. Be intentional throughout the day in stopping and going to the Lord in prayer.
- Tell the Lord to help you remember praying is NOT an activity but a relationship.
Suggested Prayer
Lamb of God, Jesus my LORD and Savior, Redeemer and Friend. You are amazing. Your love is unstoppable. Your mercy is never ending. Teach me Your ways in Your Word. Give me a greater desire to daily open Your written Word. Help me to read, ponder, wonder and commune with You. Thank You Lord for Your faithful friendship that beckons and invites me to “come.” Come by streams of living water and let the roots of my heart go deep into You Lord. Reveal Yourself to me, oh God. I want to know You through Your written Word.
Draw me into Your Presence. I ask that You still my wandering eyes and focus my heart on You Lord. God Your Word is living and active. Therefore, I ask that You give me the strength through Your Spirit to abide in You and meditate on Your Word. Give me ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart to respond to You. Give me faith Lord to believe what You say even when I don’t see it. I pray all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.