TODAY’S LESSON: PLAY BY THE RULES
BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT WALKETH NOT IN THE COUNSEL OF THE UNGODLY,
NOR STANDETH IN THE WAY OF SINNERS,
NOR SITTETH IN THE SEAT OF THE SCORNFUL.
PSALMS 1:1
IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH
GENESIS 1:1
THIS IS WHEN IT ALL BEGAN.
(IN THE BEGINNING)
BACK THEN THERE WAS ONLY 1 RULE.
DON’T EAT THE FRUIT FROM THE TREE OF
THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL.
WELL, THAT RULE WAS BROKEN
AND NOW THERE ARE RULES FOR EVERYTHING.
TAKE FOR INSTANCE, KIDS:
THERE’S A RULE ABOUT BED TIME.
FOR TEENAGERS: A CURFEW
YOUNG ADULTS: ACT YOUR AGE.
OLDER ADULTS: TAKE YOUR MEDICINE
THESE ARE ALL REALLY GOOD RULES;
RULES THAT NEED TO BE FOLLOWED,
BUT WHAT ABOUT GOD’S RULES:
THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME.
THOU SHALT NOT MAKE UNTO THEE ANY GRAVEN IMAGE.
THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD TH GOD IN VAIN
REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY TO KEEP IT HOLY.
HONOUR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER.
THOU SHALT NOT KILL.
THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.
THOU SHALT NOT STEAL.
THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST THY NEIGHBOR.
THOU SHALT NOT COVET.
EXODUS 20:3-17
HOW MANY OF THESE DO WE BREAK ON A DAILY BASIS?
QUITE A FEW I SUSPECT.
THE BIBLE IS FILLED WITH RULES THAT ARE MEANT TO HELP US.
UNFORTUNATELY, SOME DON’T SEE IT THAT WAY.
ONE THING ABOUT RULES IS FOR SURE:
THERE ARE REWARDS FOR THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE RULES
AND CONSEQUENCES FOR THOSE WHO DON’T.
I THINK OF THE STORY OF ESTHER.
SHE KNEW WHO SHE WAS YET SHEWED NO SHAME.
THOUGH AFRAID SHE FOLLOWED THE RULES
AND AS A RESULT SHE NOT ONLY SAVED HER OWN LIFE,
BUT HER PEOPLE’S AS WELL.
THEN, THERE’S HAMAN.
NOT ONLY DID HE NOT FOLLOW THE RULES,
HE WENT SO FAR AS TO TRY AND GET AHASUERUS,
THE KING OF SHUSHAN AT THE TIME,
TO GO ALONG WITH HIM
AND AS A RESULT HE DIED.
THE CHOICE ISN’T HARD TO MAKE.
YOU EITHER FOLLOW THE RULES OR YOU DON’T.
THE CHOICE IS UP TO YOU.
FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.
ROMANS 6:23
NOT FOLLOWING/BREAKING THE RULES IS SIN, BUT TAKE A LOOK AT THIS:
FOR ALL HAVE SINNED, AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD;
ROMANS 3:23
SO, WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE?
PHYSICALLY, YES.
AT SOME POINT WE WILL ALL DIE.
SPIRITUALLY: WELL, THAT’S YOUR DECISION.
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD,
THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON,
THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM
SHOULD NOT PERISH,
BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.
JOHN 3:16
