Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. Romans 10:1-3
Paul understood exactly what he was speaking of. He was a dedicated Jew. He loves the Israelites. Prior to his encounter with Jesus, Paul was zealous and ambitious in chasing down and persecuting people who were not in full pursuit of the religious law. Based on the framework of law recorded in the Old Testament, the law of the Israelites had become layers upon layers of conformity. The belief in all of this is that one could restore a relationship with God. Set free by Jesus, Paul has come to understand the challenge of giving up trying to save ourselves through the law.
This continues to be true today in different forms. Every form of the Christian faith has added layers of conformity and law to be followed. We focus on conformity and compliance as a way of celebrating our faith. The challenge is that the rules, laws, and codes become more important to us than the way of Christ. The body of Christ divides over things that are not core to belief in Christ. It actually makes believing and following Jesus more difficult.
Reflection
To some degree, I understand Paul’s passion and conviction. I love the body of Christ, the Church. Yet, I watch the growing burdens of religious compliance snuff out the vibrancy of lives coming to believe in Jesus as the way the truth, and the life. Perhaps that is why I am drawn so strongly to Christian Camping as part of the Body of Christ. At the heart is a simple desire to draw people to Jesus around a campfire where His love and invitation are freely shared with anyone listening.
We know that trying to save ourselves through compliance and conformity to the law does not work. It doesn’t work individually or corporately. Yet, just as the people of Israel in Paul’s day, we cling to these things. The illusion of controlling our own destiny is so attractive. Yet, it is not the way of God. God offers a way of being made right with Him through Jesus Christ. It is beautiful, requiring only faith in Jesus.
Encouragement
Take a look at the way you have structured your life. Is conformity and compliance to religious form more important than accepting God’s way of being saved and restored with God? Receive the gift God gives. Lay aside the things that drive you to “earn” your own way. Lean into being an apprentice of Jesus and learning His ways. By our own nature, we tend to cling to structures we make as our spiritual security. Focus on the way of Christ that only comes through faith that gives us a restored life with God.
Prayer
Dear Father God,
Thank You for making a way to be right with You through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Please forgive us for our desire to cling to our own rituals of compliance and conformity that do not reflect You and Your ways. Please help us to embrace the change You offer. Help us to follow You.
In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen