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Oh To Be Wise Meditations
The Pharisees got too legalistic. They took God's word and made it a burden in people's lives. Self righteousness is a real thing, getting puffed up because of the value of God's wisdom. It so easy to become vain and prideful and actually add to Gods word your own preferences. We are suppose to apply scripture to our lives and learn to live in its protection. The problem though is that we love sin more than the truth, and we will twist truth in hoping God will overlook our rebellious attitude. Look at this prophetic word spoken to Isaiah about judgment on Ephraim. "Woe to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim's drunkards, to the fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley-- to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine! See, the Lord has one who is powerful and strong. Like a hailstorm and a destructive wind, like a driving rain and a flooding downpour, he will throw it forcefully to the ground. The proud city of Samaria— the glorious crown of the drunks of Israel— will be trampled beneath its enemies’ feet. That fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley, will be like figs ripe before harvest-- as soon as people see them and take them in hand, they swallow them. In that day the LORD Almighty will be a glorious crown, a beautiful wreath for the remnant of his people. He will give a longing for justice to their judges. He will give great courage to their warriors who stand at the gates. Now, however, Israel is led by drunks who reel with wine and stagger with alcohol. The priests and prophets stagger with alcohol and lose themselves in wine. They reel when they see visions and stagger as they render decisions. Their tables are covered with vomit; filth is everywhere. “Who does the LORD think we are?” they ask. “Why does he speak to us like this? Are we little children, just recently weaned? He tells us everything over and over— one line at a time, one line at a time, a little here, and a little there!” Right there, that sentence in context is what I am trying to get at. This is were legalism can begin and your faith get stunted in growth. God in Christ is calling us to keep line upon line, one line at a time, a little here, and a little there! Its in our heart of sin to disobey Gods law. The law is holy but it births sinful desires in me like the Apostle Paul says. Legalism creeps in when sin knocks at your door. If the letter of the law does not convert us The LORD will allow external forces to move us towards repentance. But its in our very nature to rebel against His holy word. What Jesus has brought to the believer is a personal relationship that gives us victory over sin. He is the Living Word working in us to guide us to a holy life. His Righteousness is the credited to us so that we can get away from the legalism of Gods word. And actually receive blessing from the spirit of it. Its not just another rule to keep or break, or manipulate to bring you favor. Its more powerful than that. We can experience the holiness of Gods Word through his grace. And by faith we can truly enjoy the blessings of keeping his commandments both now and forevermore. Meditate Matt. 23:23
