Louie Giglio talked about God not being about wanting us to “do this better” or clean this up, or change this part of our lives so we can do this different. He said that more than anything else God wants us. Period. He doesn’t want us to _____. He just wants us.
God wants you.
He talks about knowing all of the facts and the slogan and creed of Krispy Kreme, but that they don’t sell donuts just to get the Krispy Kreme information across, they sell them for an experience.
Jesus did not come and teach the sermon on the mount so that we’d have a list of things that we should do differently. He didn’t bring a new law to us to replace Moses’ law.
He came to fill up the law.
““Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
(Matthew 5.17-18, NIV)
“to fulfill them” is the same word used of a FULL NET OF FISH.
My love for Cindy isn’t by a list. I don’t have a list of how to relate to her, or how to be with her, or do-s and don’ts concerning her. Since I don’t have that list, sometimes I mess up on accident, and I hurt her, but I know and she knows that it’s better that I know HER than have some list, because I could never know her if all I had of her was a list.
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
(1John 4.18, NIV)
There isn’t any fear in my relationship with Cindy, because I know that eventually she’ll forgive me for however I mess up. The same is with Christ. I know He will forgive me, no matter what I do, and I live KNOWING HIM rather than some list.
Here’s a little fancy table to search out the details more
Wife/List
Unpredictable/ Predictable
Personal/ Impersonal
Failure needs Forgiveness/ Failure needs a Formula
Free /Debits & Credits
Alive /Dead
the current fad of the 10 commandments proves that it really is easier for us to live by a list. We try to make laws out of the command to draw near to God by grace. We try to make laws of Christian living, such as tithing and quiet times. Illegal things come up, like cuss words or hanging out with certain people. But none of that is the Gospel.
Jesus said, “if you know me, you know the Father.” and He talked about it like it was one of the most important things we could do!
“Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.””
(John 6.28-29, NIV)