Changed: CCV StudentsSample

WHAT’S UP WITH THE RULES?

I don’t want to assume that you are like me, but I have always had a tough time with rules. Once I understand why a rule exists and feel like it makes sense, I’m good to go…no problem following that rule. But when a rule seems ridiculous, or I don’t see its value…or if I’m really honest…I don’t trust the person handing down the rule – oh man, I am going to have a hard time falling in line. Can you relate? I bet you’ve had at least one run-in with a rule that you just didn’t agree with and had a tough time following. 

Well, that same attitude can carry over into the way we approach the Bible if we aren’t careful. Have you ever had a parent or a pastor tell you, “the Bible says not to do ______,” or when you asked why something was considered a “sin” they just said “because the Bible says so”? Not a super-helpful response, is it? Sadly, a whole lot of us have been inadvertently given the idea that the Bible is a giant list of rules that God wants us to follow. At best, that is a very incomplete picture of God’s Word…at worst, it’s flat-out wrong! For one thing, the Old Testament (the first 2/3 of your Bible that covers history up until Jesus arrived) has a little over 600 laws written in it for the people of Ancient Israel. These “rules” were given to this specific group for a specific purpose, and Jesus fulfilled their ultimate purpose…no need for us to worry about them. However, the guidelines or instructions laid out by Jesus and the writers of the New Testament are not laws for how to get into heaven or make God happy with you – we’ve already been over how Jesus took care of all of that. All of those “rules” are part of God’s roadmap for the best possible life! Essentially, it’s God saying, “hey, I designed you and this world that you live in…here’s how it all works best.” So, if God says to stay away from something, it’s because it’s going to cause you harm (just like when I tell my six-year-old to step back from the hot stove). If He tells you to do something, it’s because it will benefit you and/or the people in your life that He wants you to point towards Him. When it comes to God's "rules," there is always a reason, and it’s always good!

So, if you’ve been operating under the impression that the Bible is jam-packed full of rules, go ahead and get that idea right out of your head. And when you read something in the Bible that gives you instructions or “rules,” stop and think for a second about why God would ask this of His people. If you approach it with the fundamental understanding that God is a good Father who wants what is best for His children, it won’t be hard to figure out why He gave that instruction in the first place. And if you’ll submit yourself and obey it, you’ll be amazed at how much better your life seems to function. 

We’ll cover some more specifics over the next few days, but for now I want you to read the following verses and ask yourself this question: how would my life change if I let the Bible direct my actions?