Most of us have a tendency to complicate life and make it difficult; this is totally unnecessary. We may have grown up accepting what church taught us about “living right” and following the Ten Commandments in order to qualify for heaven. At one time, this was true.
However, when Jesus came, that all changed.
The Law of Moses, and the more than six hundred additional requirements, condemned the people and constantly reminded them of their shortcomings. The more they tried to keep it, the more they failed to do so. The law entered so that sin could abound. It was given to expose to people their guilt and make them conscious of their sins.
This was a painful way to live; thankfully, Jesus replaced the law with grace. He supplanted it with one simple law—the law of love. The new commandment He gave was that we love one another as He loves us. Believing in God’s love enables us to reflect this love toward others and receive God’s blessings, with no curses attached.
Grace has negated the need for rules carved on stone tablets to tell us how to live. God’s law of love has been placed in us; we’ve been declared living epistles of Christ written by the Spirit of God on fleshy tables of the heart. We can now have a relationship with the Holy Spirit, who guides us through life.
We’re free from having to earn God’s approval through self-effort, the way the people were required to do under the old covenant. The Spirit of grace removes the burden of the law, and allows us to freely receive God’s unmerited, unearned favor toward us. When we feel heavy-laden and we’re weary from laboring, we’re welcome to come to Him and find rest for our souls. Living under this covenant is much easier and simpler.
Prayer:
Lord, when man was struggling unsuccessfully to keep the law, You sent Your Son to replace the law with grace. You did this through Your mercy and compassion, to take the heavy burden of self-effort off of us. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scriptures:
- Romans 5:20
- Galatians 3:19, AMPC
- John 13:34
- 2 Corinthians 3:1-3
- Matthew 11:28-30