Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the Lord
and meditates on his law day and night. (Ps 1:1-2)
It seems as if we spend an inordinate amount of time in our lives trying to figure out how to circumvent laws. How many times have we heard someone say, “Well, that doesn’t really apply to me, so I don’t pay attention to it.” People use this excuse to ignore traffic laws, tax laws, and all sorts of other codes of conduct.
What we do with earthly matters, we often do with matters concerning the Lord as well.
We look at the commandments that have been given to us and some think, “I don’t need to follow those. They don’t apply to me.” Those people go merrily on their way, breaking God’s law time and time again.
However, it might help us to remember that laws, rules, regulations — whatever you want to call them — are there for a very specific purpose. They were not instituted to cause us grief. They were instituted to keep us out of trouble.
They help us, they shape us, they guide us while steering us clear of things that could harm us.
It is when we decide to disregard the law that we find ourselves getting into trouble, maybe even getting hurt. Or worse.
God gave us the commandments so as to help us in this life and to bring us to eternal life with Him.
It would do us well to reflect upon the reasons for those commandments.
FAITH ACTION: What part of God’s law do you find most difficult to keep? Ask Him for the grace that you need today to embrace His laws more completely.