Do's and Don'ts

I remember when raising our children it seems we were always
guiding them into the correct behavioral patterns by issuing
affirmative and negative instructions at the appropriate times. We
always tried to do so in a positive tone, even when saying no,
or don't. If we ever said no, we tried to have a good reason to
back it up and explain why a behavior was unacceptable. For
example, if you don't get out of the street you are going to get
hit by a car (even if there were no cars at the moment, and our
children didn't understand why they should comply). We did
all of this because we loved them dearly. If we did not love
them, we would have just let them go fend for themselves.

In discussing the Bible over the years with unbelievers, I have heard
the sentiment, "I don't like the Bible, it's full of don't do this and
don't do that". I have tried to explain that a loving God has set down
rules for our own good, even if we don't understand why, just like a
loving parent would do. Well, this apologetic approach rarely
worked, so I would go to explanation plan B. You see, few people
realize that the greatest commandment from God is not a "don't",
but it is a "do".

Jesus was once asked a trick question. The question was, "Master,
what is the greatest commandment"? Jesus didn't respond with a
"don't". He said, "Hear O Israel, thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind, and with all thy
strength. This is the first and great(est) commandment, and the
second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." How
about that? Jesus quoted from the book of Deuteronomy, what is
known to the Jews as "The Shema"[in Hebrew- "The O hear.."].
It is a "do", not a "don't".

The Shema has been recited in Jewish worship for centuries, from
the time of Moses. Today, in many Christian liturgies, it is still quoted.
Our pastor recites it in every worship service. For obvious reasons,
the Shema, reveals the true nature of worship- love and reverence
for God. If we get that right, then love will manifest itself in love and
service to others. Even spreading the good news of Jesus Christ will
flow from a heart full of love, and not judgement. Because, you simply
want to share the great gift (of salvation) out of love, joy, and
gratitude, with everyone else so they can know the true loving God
and His son, as well. He doesn't love us because He has to, but
because He wants to. Amazingly, He gives us a chance to not love
Him if we want to.

So the do's and don'ts in God's instructional book for life (the Bible)
are there out of love. We won't always understand the why part, just
like children who are being guided and raised lovingly, here on earth.
The legalistic Pharisees of Jesus' day tried to make all of this into a
system of legalism and rules, but Jesus set the record straight by
quoting the Shema, and in essence telling them it isn't all about the
rules, it's about the relationship with the one true living and
loving God. If we get that right, we will follow His loving guidelines
because we want to and not because we have to. After all, He is
"Our Father, who art in heaven.."

Love and Blessings always,
George