It’s been another quiet summer day in Leominster, Massachusetts. The hummingbirds have been busy at the window feeder. It’s hard to believe they will be gone soon on their winter trip to the Caribbean. We think it’s possible that the orioles are gone already along with the catbirds. It seems too early for them to leave. Maybe the neighbors have better grape jelly. One wants to eat at the best restaurant in town. That’s what the first commandment is all about. Our Heavenly Father wants us to eat at the best place possible. Why should we serve gods who are not alive and can give us nothing? What He is saying is, “Don’t be stupid and eat and drink from polluted, poisoned wells. I’m here and I have the best for you.”
God’s law isn’t burdensome unless we decide to make it so. It is a law of freedom. It frees us from the tyranny and violence of others. It gives us the guidance to be free from the retaliation of others, since they will have nothing to retaliate against because we haven’t harmed them. Actually, that only works if they are intelligent people. So often other’s selfishness wants to harm us when they see us living so well. They don’t understand. They think somehow we are cheating them. However, “Thou preparest a table before me. My cup runs over. Goodness and mercy follow me.” They just don’t understand that they too could have the same daily banquet. God isn’t playing favorites. Obedience bears good fruit. When we understand we get it. When we obey God we are obeying ourselves. The fruit is what we really want.
Psalm 119 tells us that God’s law makes us wiser than our teachers.
Written by Roger Bothwell on August 18, 2014
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org