A series of unprosecuted misdemeanors is occurring in our city. Lilacs are blooming. We have a neighbor with a hedge of lilacs that buffers their home from a busy street. As far up as one can reach the unresistible blossoms are gone. Not only have I seen walkers plucking these beauties, I have seen cars stopped with people boldly taking handfuls.
In Mark 2 we read, “One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” Note they were not accused of stealing because it was lawful that a person could take what was necessary to satisfy one’s hunger.
Different times – different laws. In Ecclesiastes 3 Solomon says there is a time for loving and a time for hating, a time for making peace and a time for making war. He even goes so far as to say there is a time to kill.
In Luke 10 we read, “An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’
‘What is written in the Law?’ Jesus replied. ‘How do you read it?’
He answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself.’
‘You have answered correctly,’ Jesus replied. ‘Do this and you will live.’ ”
One of the most difficult but liberating moments in our lives is when we are able to understand and move from merely being law keepers to living by these two great principles. Please carefully and prayfully read Galatians 4 and 5.
Written by Roger Bothwell on May 22, 2013
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org