Freedom

...and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. John 8:32

Are you a 'rule keeper'?  I guess I have grown up that way; I was expected to keep the rules and I was a compliant child.  Not because I wanted to be for the most part.  I envied friends who didn't mind taking a risk and getting into trouble.  I was always afraid of the consequences of making a mistake. But let me be clear straight up, I am not saying for a moment that we shouldn't keep the laws of the land because we should (Romans 13:1-3 NLT).  They are mainly there to protect us.  But there were rules, particularly religious ones, that Jesus obviously had a problem with.

When the disciples were asked if Jesus was avoiding paying temple tax Peter came and asked him if it was true.  Jesus used it as a teaching tool for Peter then told him to go fish and the money to pay taxes for each of them would be in the first fish's mouth. (Matthew 17:24-27).  The religious rules that Jesus had a problem with were because they had become so many as religious leaders had added more and more rules over the years, rules that had become a hindrance to the grace and freedom that God wanted for His people.  Dare I tell you that God is a religious rule breaker? Let me show you.

When Jesus, (God with us) was hungry on the sabbath he plucked grain and ate it as he walked through the fields.  By doing this he broke a religious rule.  You were not to work on the sabbath, and picking grain was considered work! He healed the sick on the sabbath and got into trouble, not just once. He tipped over the money changer's tables in the temple.  I'm sure that was against the rules and he rebuked the religious leaders publicly for their hypocrisy.  I'm sure that didn't go down well.

The best thing that struck me in my reading today in Mark 5:25-34  was that Jesus healed a woman who was blatantly breaking the religious rules.  In fact it was one of God's rules (Lev 15:19).  This woman was desperate; she had been haemorrhaging for years, had spent all her money on doctors and was no better.  Jesus was her last hope but she wasn't supposed to be in public with her 'problem'.  She broke the rules and was healed.  Jesus did not specifically pray for her healing, she was healed as she reached out and touched his garment in desperate faith. She was not the only rule breaker that immediately comes to mind.  There were also ten lepers who were supposed to keep themselves separate from people.  Jesus didn't rebuke them for coming near, he healed them.

You see Christianity is about freedom and grace.  If you find yourself bound up by rules and regulations you are not free to live and make your own authentic choices - even if you don't always get it right.  If you fear making a mistake you don't understand the love and grace of God. Just look at Peter (Luke 22:61 & Mark 16:7).  Jesus said that when we know the truth (about God's love and grace) we shall be set free.

God is nothing about control but all about allowing us the freedom to choose. He warns us there are choices that will bring life and choices which lead to death.  (Deuteronomy 30:19). Much as he would like us to make choices that lead to life, he gives us the freedom to choose.

Prayer: Thank you loving God that you have given me the freedom to make choices in my life.  Help me to make choices that bring life, joy and freedom, and please give me a clear nudge when I begin to become rule-oriented. Amen