Enforcing Some but Ignoring the Others

S-Picking and Choosing

S-"So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1

A-God's Grace and Freedom

L-Enforce One and Ignore the Other

"Notice what large letters I use as I write these closing words in my own handwriting. 

       -Back in the day, handwritten letters were the way of mail. To receive a handwritten letter, meant that someone personally took the time to sit down and think about you. It was the only way, there was no such thing as emailing or texting.

       -It had meaning. It was genuine.

       -Paul closed the letter to the Churches in Galatia with pen in hand, written large to ensure his genuine concern and love for them. It was Paul's way of saying, pay attention! (I wonder if he wrote in all caps, as though he was really trying to get his point across)

Paul goes on to write

"Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised are doing it for just one reason. They don't want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save. And even those who advocate circumcision don't really keep the whole law. They only want you to be circumcised so they can brag about it and claim you as their disciples." Galatians 6:11-13

      -Listen, these people who come up to you and force you to follow their rules, yet they themselves ignore rules and laws themselves. They don't have your best interest at heart. They are full of themselves.

      -They force circumcision upon you because they are afraid of being persecuted. They would rather receive the praise than giving it to Christ.

      -Can't you see what they are doing? They are picking and choosing specific parts of God's law to obey and force, all while ignoring the rest of it. Don't be like that! Don't conform to that type of thinking or living.

     -God's Word it to be obeyed in its entirety, and it can't be done with out the Holy Spirit. Only Christ was able to fulfill and obey the entire law.

    -What laws are you forcing upon others? Let's step back and evaluate our life to the life of Christ. Let's not be those who pick and choose. Let's seek to obey all of the Word.

    -Let's be aware of what we are being taught and what we are teaching. Don't force your own convictions onto others. You can share your personal convictions but make sure you don't enforce them onto others in order to boast or claim them as your disciples. God didn't call us to be the Holy Spirit.

    -He called us to be followers of Christ, who seek to live a pure and blameless life, that honors and pleases Him.

S-Ask Christ to show you areas of His Word you are picking and choosing to obey. Then let Him help you obey all of His Word by the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

It is Finished!

“Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands! And with those words he breathed his last.” Luke 23:46

Place Number 8-Skull Hill (Golgotha) Jesus’ death

“By this time it was noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. Luke 23:44 “Then, at that time Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’Mark 15:34 “Jesus knew that everything was now finished, and to fulfill the Scriptures he said, “I am thirsty. A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. John 19:28-29 “When Jesus had tasted it, he said, ‘It is finished!’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 19:30

Around nine Jesus was placed on the cross and breathed His last breath around three o’clock. That is 6 hours-6 hours that Jesus hung on the cross bearing the sin of the world and separation from His Father. 

Before all of that He was arrested, bound up, punched, spit on, mocked, laughed at, and flogged.

The moment when Jesus cried out,  "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  Why have You left me? Why have You abandoned me? (My paraphrase)  Yet I know God's response, “Because You, my Son, have the sin of the world placed upon You and I cannot look at sin.” (Again my paraphrase)

For us it is the suffering Jesus faced that is unbelievable, for Jesus it was the separation from God that was unbearable. But my brethren Jesus Christ loved you and me so much that He suffered the unbearable separation and suffering so we could have everlasting life. Love-true love at that, is the ultimate expression of God’s loyalty, purity, and mercy extended toward His people through the death of His Son.

The very next day was the Sabbath (the Passover Sabbath at that) the Jewish leaders did not want Jesus and the other two still hanging there so they asked Pilate if they could hurry up their deaths by ordering for their legs to be broke. Thus allowing their bodies to be taken down. Pilate agreed, so the soldiers broke the legs of the two men, but when they go to Jesus, “They saw that he was dead already, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out.”  John19:34. This is where the most amazing love is; right here in the flowing of His blood. Let it flow over you my brothers and sisters and receive the gift of forgiveness. Jesus the perfect sacrifice, the perfect Lamb of God has just showered you with His love.

Jesus as I lift my eyes up to heaven, throw my head back, and stretch my arms out wide. I ask that You open the flood gates of heaven and let Your blood, mercy, and love pour down all over me. Jesus right now only You can feel and see all that my heart is feeling. The love, the thankfulness, the awe, the excitement, oh just every emotion of joy. Jesus what you have placed in my heart I can’t contain it.  Amen