I am justified by my faith in God, not by the laws and rules that I follow. One might think that it is the other way as in the world, as a follower of Christ, I will follow the law. But, I follow the law as it aligns with the doing what is right and in the name of the LORD.
In my role as a training professional, I come across a lot of procedures and rules and processes that are designed to get us through a particular situation and not have to wonder whether we are doing things right. Well, those processes do not account for all situations and when one of those comes up, when there is not clear directions as to what or how to proceed, there is chaos. Those that encounter those situations are paralyzed by the idea that there is no clear direction on what to do.
“10For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.’” — Galatians 3:10 (ESV)
Those who rely on being told what to do and how to proceed are bound by that process always. I have to remember that it is knowing the greater plan and understanding the idea that I have to think and apply principles as opposed to apply laws and rules and processes and procedures. This is where knowing what is right and applying that to the situation makes all the difference in the completion of the tasks and sitting paralyzed. I am not cursed by the law and only being able to do that which is written, I am free to apply that which is right thanks to the freedom given by knowing.
“11Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” — Galatians 3:11 (ESV)
Now, I have to confess that our freedom of knowing, does not give us the freedom to do what we want, when we want. I still have to apply my faith to all situations. The thing is that I am not ruled by the law of man. I follow the laws of man not to gain something, but rather because it is right under the justification I have received thanks to my faith in God.
The law of man does not always align with the law of God. When that does occur, it is the law of God that I will follow as that is what is right. I have to remember that it is what is right that falls into the following of Christ, and not just that which is written down. A good amount of the time what is right is what is written, but when there are situations where there may not be something written, I have to lean on that which I know to be right thanks to the justification I have gained through my faith in God.
What do you do when you don’t know what to do? Are you paralyzed with the not knowing because someone or the law has not told you? What if you followed Christ instead of the law and rules and allowed your knowing of what is right to guide you?
Trevor's Thoughts 