Rules Go Beyond Their Face Value….

Have you ever thought about something, and when you’ve exhausted the resources available in your quest for discovery, realized you’ve been interpreting reality in an unrealistic manner? I think as human beings living on planet earth, we tend to get caught up in our own point of view, which prohibits to the discovery of the truth, or reality. Once we are in a predicament, we say, “Woe is me”, or start to question “Why?”. We are all responsible for our own actions. We are all accountable to God. When things don’t work out, due to our irresponsibility, we look for someone to blame. We seek retribution. When in fact, 99% of all of our pain and suffering is self-inflicted. I mean it’s mainly due to our lack of effort in following God. Let me explain. Let’s say you are playing a game. The game has rules. If you don’t follow the rules, you get penalized. When you get penalized, the game isn’t fun anymore and you want to quit. How can you expect to play the game, and enjoy it, much less win, if you don’t play by the rules? How can you enjoy playing if you don’t stay within the parameters of the game. You know once you cross the line, you must expect the penalty. Once that happens, why is it we act like it’s not fair? Like we’ve been wronged? It’s because we don’t set in our minds, before the game starts, that we are going to accept the rules, and play within its parameters. We look at it as, “I want to win, no matter what the rules say“. Winning at all costs is the attitude we all have. In reality, this “winning at all costs”reveals the underlying motive of selfishness. This premeditated mindset sets us up for failure and disappointment. Is this not the same way it is with life? We know there is a right way to live, God’s way, yet we have a mindset that says, “I’m going to do it my way, regardless of the rules”, and we expect to win, or get our way. When the consequences come down hard on us, we complain, and cry “Foul!”. The right thing to do is accept the rules before we start playing the game, then if things go wrong and lose, it won’t be because we didn’t follow the rules. Some examples of this: there is no such thing as “safe sex”. Pregnancy, STDs, and emotional baggage are part of the consequences when you don’t play by the rules. Abortion or taking the plan B pill afterwards is not a legitimate defense to your situation. Calling alcoholism a disease is not a defensible stand. A disease is something you can’t wake up the next day and say “I want to stop”, like with a behavior (you can). Accepting your sinful behavior doesn’t make it not sinful. God determines and clarifies it through His Word as to what sin is. No amount of pushing your agenda to gain acceptance is going to make something that’s wrong turn into something that’s right. Sexual immorality is a sin, no matter how you want to define it. Adultery, fornication, and homosexuality are all sins. They all fall under the definition of sexual immorality, regardless if we want to accept it or not. Trying to promote something that is harmful to the body, that eventually destroys it physically, mentally, and spiritually, doesn’t change the reality of it. I could go on and on, but if you’re honest with yourself, you get the point. Rules are set into place for our own good, for our protection. They serve a purpose. God’s rules serve an even higher purpose. Some of His commands show us our sin and are meant to point us toward a Savior that He provides. Some of His commands don’t have hints on them (peace, patience, kindness, love). When we accept His way of living, we can enjoy life, knowing we are living within the parameters of His design (or above them). We can live secure, knowing we are doing what we are supposed to be doing. We can live free from guilt, shame, and condemnation. It’s only when we try to live our own way, without God, do we come across these adverse issues, and start to play the justify game, which leads to self-defeat, and misery. With all this being said, we get out of what we put into something. We reap what we sow. If we plant good things, living God’s way, we live securely and flourish, free from the septic pull of an unfulfilled life. If we break the rules, how can we expect to enjoy life, and win in the end. It all depends on our attitude towards God. What’s your attitude today? What are you going to do about it?

7 “But you would not listen to Me,” says the Lord. “You made Me furious by worshiping idols you made with your own hands, bringing on yourselves all the disasters you now suffer. Jeremiah 25:7

 I lie in the dust; revive me by Your word. 26 I told You my plans, and You answered. Now teach me Your decrees. 27 Help me understand the meaning of Your commandments, and I will meditate on Your wonderful deeds. 28 I weep with sorrow; encourage me by Your word. 29 Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing Your instructions. 30 I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by Your regulations. 31 I cling to Your laws. Lord, don’t let me be put to shame! 32 I will pursue Your commands, for You expand my understanding. Psalms 119:25c-32

Lord;I will keep them to the end.34 Give me understanding and I will obey Your instructions;I will put them into practice with all my heart.35 Make me walk along the path of Your commands,for that is where my happiness is found.36 Give me an eagerness for Your lawsrather than a love for money!37 Turn my eyes from worthless things,and give me life through Your word.38 Reassure me of Your promise,made to those who fear You.39 Help me abandon my shameful ways;for Your regulations are good.40 I long to obey Your commandments!Renew my life with Your goodness. Psalms 119:33c-40