Still Like The Children of Israel...

I just wanna say I'm grateful to God for His goodness to our family! He's brought us through so much in the past year-and-a-half.  We're still working through some current family situations, but He is faithful!  Praise God!  

In our ladies Bible study we are studying the life of Moses.  I have gotten in on the tail-end of the study, but am thoroughly enjoying it.  I do believe that we (His children) are so much like the Children of Israel were in the Old Testament.  We are whiners, complainers and demand what we want from God!  We stray away from Him when we think "we've got this" and make Him second place.  Then when He allows us to have what we want, and things go topsy-turvy, we decide that we really DO need Him and come running back.  Does that sound familiar?  :)  The only thing that has really changed is that we don't have to abide by all the sacrifices and O.T. Laws (with the exception of The Ten Commandments). Unfortunately, so many churches today still try to govern their people by laws rather than by freedom in Christ.  Putting down laws for people to uphold in order to maintain their relationship with Jesus Christ will never work.  Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for us and came to give us liberty, not bondage. 

The ESV puts it this way, "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

I like the NLT version, "So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1

It's so easy to get "tied up again" as the NLT puts it.  It can sneak up on you so slowly that you don't even realize you're "tied up again" until you are in the thick of it, suffocated, in chains, and you wonder how you were ever so blind-sided. Thank God for His faithfulness in showing us His truth and love!!  

Having freedom in Christ doesn't mean we can go out and do anything we want and still make it to Heaven.  If that's how one feels, he/she better go back and check their conversion.  :)  We are called to live Holy lives.  Holy doesn't mean we will be perfect, but it does mean we strive for perfection.......we strive to be like Jesus!  He is the perfecter of our faith!  I like the way the NASB puts it, "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

I want His Holiness in my life!  I want Him to be present in what I say and how I live my life.  

Jesus, make me more and more like You each day.  Help me in my weaknesses. Perfect my faith in You.  Give me Your strength to face the challenges that come day to day.  

Love,

Me