It is more important to follow the law if God as opposed to the law of man. Yes, I have a responsibility to do that which is right under the law and a large amount of the time following the law of man is going to align with the law of God. It is in those times where there is conflict between the two that I have to remember to follow the law of God and whatever consequences come from man as a result, I will endure for what was done was right under the law of God which is above the law of man. Mercy is God’s and falls under His law as opposed to man’s.
I am reading this morning in the book of Matthew and the passage titled in my bible “Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath”. In those days, the Sabbath was a sacred day and doing work was not permitted. The people were expected to sacrifice their physical well being by fasting on this day in observance of the LORD. Yet, the priests were somehow allowed carry on as usual. The priests were above (or rather the exception to) the law of man.
When Jesus came, all changed for man. Now Jesus represented the law and it was not the following of the law of man that mattered, but following the law of God. No longer was the Sabbath a day of sacrifice, it was a day of observance and glory to the God. Following the law of God, meant doing the work of God, and in that work, there is mercy and service for those in need.
“1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, ‘Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath’…’7And if you had known what this means, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,” you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.’” — Matthew 12:1-2 & 7-8 (ESV)
Now, the Sabbath is the day of observance and glory to God and I should be focused on Him during this time, however, I also have an obligation to serve and provide mercy to those in need. It is in that service that I am providing the glory to God and doing his will. I have to remember that all I do is for Him and not for me. By providing the mercy to others, I have opened the door for mercy to be given to me when I am in need.
I am bound to the law of God and less so the law of man. Where the two intersect, that is a great thing. I, however should not be looking fully to the intersection and focus my attention on the law of God and doing His will. Mercy is that place where God’s law stands above man’s law. Providing for others is fully in line with God and I have to be looking for those chances regardless of when or where they might lie in the relation to the world and man’s view.
What are you doing that aligns with God’s law? Are you more interested in doing that which is right in eyes of man? What if you were to provide for others by serving and giving out mercy to do the will of God and focusing on doing that which is right in the eyes of God as opposed to man?
Trevor's Thoughts 