Hey Merk, help me understand where you're coming from here. In another thread on the same topic, you wrote, "As for me? the commands of God are just that "commands"." Do you read the whole OT law as God's commands that we still need to try to fully follow?
Thanks Road for your reply/question.
My Pastor taught me that there 3 rules that must be applied when reading the bible:
In Context
In Context and
In Context.
For us to grasp the beauty of that book, you kind of have to read it cover to cover - a couple of times. I wish I could say I was one of those people who have read the bible for study purposes, well yes, I have studied it - but only to enrich my relationship with my God. To try and understand Him better. So I am not a scholar etc - I just want to please Him and draw close to Him.
When I say "As for me? the commands of God are just that "commands" of course I bear in mind the timeline of the bible. Which in my understanding (please im not a scholar) is:
1.Man sinned - and created a dilemma for God. By His nature and laws death must enter, but by His love He makes a plan.
3.God makes a backup plan as Man would have never been able to save himself anyways
4. The Plan was Christ
5. The old testament in the mean time (while Christ was coming) is/was a shadow of things yet to come. A set of guidelines for all to follow. (Believe me you need rules - try going on a diet without rules and eat what you want, we will see how far you will go. Even systems and processes in the human body need rules / order)
6. Christ appears in the New T and tears that veil once and for all.
7. His death deals a death knell once and for all in death's power. By His precious Blood we are saved from our sins and He mediates between God and Man - the only way through to God. His Blood literally limits the evil one from "having us" as it were.
Bearing the above in mind I can see that His plan was Love. And that the Holy Spirit, as our Helper, was sent to enable us to walk this walk. on our own - again, He knew we couldn't make it.
The New Testament fulfils the Law - it says somewhere in the bible. How is it then that, we sometimes believe by our actions (which speak louder than words by the way) - that we can omit out of the bible what we feel doesn't apply to us?
THE WHOLE BIBLE applies to you my dear. It applies to us all. Yes there is that dichotomy between laws we need to apply and those we don't etc. In reality - even Old T does say if you fail on one of these 10 commandments - you fail EVERYWHERE (hmmm, now why would God say this? - we need a revelation)
e.g. Laws like if you have mildew on your clothes and etc etc. Its too much. But this dichotomy is put to rest by the Death of Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit!
Therefore, walking with God is a love walk. A love walk that still demands He remain Lord, that He is not only resident in your life, but PRESIDENT my dear!
How else can He be President, if you don't agree with what He says. If you have a 10 roomed house but God is only allowed in 3 rooms? He is limited to resident or room mate. I think you want Him in all your house.
You see, I have found, walking with God that each and everyone of our relationships with Him are personal. As different as we are all unique. Being the gentle God that He is, if you come to Him with ALL your heart, He corrects, chastises, cleans up and disciplines. At your own special rate, one area at a time. Only so you can move forward and grow and prosper. all the good things.
However, even though I am walking at such a place with God, it is not for me to impose my rules on people. I will however not sit back, and find excuses to worm myself out of His Word. Cause I know that if you read that thing cover to cover man! It is nothing but pure beauty. The Bible.
Give, and it shall be given unto you. Make Him Lord over your whooooooooooollllleeee life, and you will see wonders.
How else, can we manage to live in a fallen world, with mediocre Christians left right and centre. Expecting to raise the dead, expecting to heal the sick (ministries that Christ wants) expecting to heal broken marriages, broken businesses, with true undeniable power - by walking mediocre? By doing things how you want, by tithing when you feel like it?
The bible says, "let him who continues to do good do good, the one doing bad to do bad" - at the end of revelations. In Daniel it says "but YOU Daniel, continue to do good" to paraphrase. It is basically up to you, how you are going to live your life.
Those choices are down to you and God, we cant, no one can control. - Note even God.
BUTTTTT,
forget changing the lives of people to the level you were destined. Forget a heavy anointing, forget yes, even the "windows of heaven pouring forth so much blessings you can not hold".
Now God, remains faithful, as He can not deny Himself (timothy). He will provide for you, you are His baby. He will protect you. BUTTTT there will be a distinction. and you will suffer loss. "Test me in this".
We don't tithe to become millionaires billionaires (yes we can). He might provide more love in your marriage instead. He might provide health. He might provide security. He might provide anointing. All I know my dear, is that YOU WILL BE BLESSED.
If He provides that money, and you share it, and more keeps coming back to you. you are threatened to be trapped in a vicious cycle of more coming back to you and you giving away! What a great threat hey!
True Love, Tells the Truth.
Give it all to God. and You will see that taken at His Word - HE ALLLLWWAAAYYYS turns up.
We cant isolate one part of the bible, to suit us. Its all in context in context in context.
If its too hard, lets admit it. But lets not worm ourselves out of God's word because we find it too hard to follow.
By His Holy Spirit, His help You can do it. And the first no is the hardest. After that you get grace to fullfill His commands. But you must take the first step.
Nothing but Luv.
Mercedes Benz E Class.