Righteous and Redirected Regulations - Part Two
“The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 29:29 (KJV)
Last week I shared that people do not like rules or being regulated. This is not considered “breaking news” because we all were ripe with rebellion when we were born.
“The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.” Psalm 58:3 (KJV)
The secular world we live in today endorses our egos and relishes rebellion. People do not want to listen to or acknowledge authority. People want to be the Lord of their own lives. However, Scripture presents an alternative viewpoint. Scripture connects rebellion to witchcraft and rebellion invites judgment. Jesus did not die for your sins so that you can serve yourself and lead a life of lawlessness.
There are many ways to live in rebellion such as living a lifestyle of sin, refusing a holy and good God’s calling, trusting ourselves rather than trusting in the Lord, and binding ourselves with a belt of bitterness.
Our rejection to regulations is resoundingly reflected in songs of the 50’s-60’s which became known as a genre of music called Outlaw Country. These songs are at least as old as popular music itself. This genre represents the appearance of lyrics that celebrate what I refer to as romanticized rebellion. Battling a rigid and unyielding legal establishment has proved irresistible for generations of songwriters. In 1959, Texan Sonny Curtis wrote one of the best, "I Fought the Law." The lyrics of "I Fought the Law" resonate with the misunderstood and rebellious young people of all generations.
But rules and regulations are essential for an ordered society as well as a sanctified and spirit filled church.
So what are regulations? Regulations are laws, rules or orders prescribed by authority specifically as it relates to regulating conduct. As followers of Jesus Christ we recognize that Jesus Christ the Lord should have the rightful role of regulator over our thoughts, words and actions in our lives. In addition, we must rightfully respond to His regulations because they are inseparable from a real relationship with Him.
The proof of those who rightly respond to the new regulations is that they will remove themselves from the old regulations (the flesh).
“Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1b (KJV)
In closing, we see that according to Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” We have moved from a position of condemnation to commendation and have adopted a new Law by the Liberator, the Lord Jesus Christ, not a Legalist. The Source of the regulations reveals its efficacy. Righteous regulations have the power to produce new conduct as well as a new course in our lives. This is because the regulations came from a righteous ruler, the Lord Jesus Christ, and His Spirit grants us the ability to act in accordance to His regulations.
Is compliance to His regulations consistently reflected in your life?
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR