Following the Rules

        The following is the eighth in a series of eight of the benefits & blessings God has bestowed upon every one of His children:

Striving to live by someone’s list of religious rules need no longer be a concern for you because Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to live in you as your guide and teacher, as is evidenced by this: And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you (John 14:16-17; 26). In other words, you can now wake up each morning thoroughly convinced that the Holy Spirit will be your guide and teacher as you journey through the day.

          I spent most of my younger years desperately trying to follow the “rules for Christian living” that were given to me by various significant others, e.g., parents, teachers, and  preachers. Strangely, not all of my peers were given the same list to follow, though there were a few commonalities. For example, the list I was given clearly stated that dancing was sinful; however, that was not true for some of my peers. They danced and I did not. It was as simple as that. Actually, I was pretty good at following the rules—outwardly. Strong flesh is another name for it.

         

          Anyway, my point is this: The Bible is not a rule book for us to follow in order to be righteous; instead, it is the revelation of Jesus, who is our righteousness. It took me a while to see that, but when I finally had my eyes opened, I began to realize the power the Holy Spirit has to lead and guide my life. Living a life that honors Him became the passion of my life. Oh, yes, I have failed many times but my failing did not negate the fact that I am righteous—His doing, not mine.

         

         

"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29 NASB).