When God Says …
“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” (Luke 10:25-28 KJV).
In these passages, we are watching unfold an interaction between the Lord Jesus and a Jewish religious lawyer. He is an equivalent to present day religious preacher, priest and scholar. This lawyer when rose to ask a question “Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”, the Lord, of course, knew that he was tempting Him. Hence, as always when dealing with religious people whose intent is to trap Him of their delusions with the law, the Lord always points them to the undoable observance of it. Doing the law, which was what the religious lawyer alludes when he said “what shall I do”, is humanity’s heinous act of disobedience against God. That’s the sin the chosen people committed at Mount Sinai when they told God through Moses to tell them what to do and they will do it. That’s after they have been taken cared by God from Egypt to Mt Sinai under His loving grace.
While they were in God’s direct care by dependence on Him, by grace they were provided all their needs of food and water, covered with pillars of clouds against the heat of the sun and by pillars of fire against the cold of the night, despite their constant complaints and murmuring against God. Hence, they were given the commandments itched in stone. They challenged Jehovah “we will do it”. And yet, before even the law was given, while Moses was coming down the mountain with the Law of God, they already broke the First Commandment of the law, which is what this religious lawyer proudly quoted, and the Lord Jesus tells him to do. Which this lawyer could not do and have not done. No one can, except the Lord who he’s talking with.
The Law was given to the rebellious Israelites to make them realize that righteousness before God is not by self effort to observe the law but by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Scripture affirms, as Apostle Paul testified: “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” (Galatians 2:21 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
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