The green laurel leaves and the red berries, together with the white bloom that is growing on the laurel tree this evening struck me. How red, how vibrant. How each has a set pattern that it does not deviate from by any large margin. God has designed these plants to grow to a specific shape, there are no random plants growing unlike they should, there coding is programmed in pretty intricately.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
Boundaries are wonderful. God created boundaries for each plant, for each animal and for man. Yet we decided to break that boundary. With only one boundary set in the garden of Eden we decided to rebel against God. I see God letting us have not many boundaries for a time after this and we all know what a mess we made of the place before God had to have a re-boot with Noah. But I see the real wonderful thing is when God gives us the ten commandments as clear boundaries. God is being active in our redemption perhaps at this point, He is being proactive.
As a parent we all set boundaries, if none are set then all sorts of bad things can happen. Boundaries are good, they protect us and others and they train us how to live.
The law of God is perfect. Jesus summed the law into two big golden rules.
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
I think gradually God seemed to lessen all the rules until Jesus set up the two great commandments. In the star and fame culture it seem interesting that Jesus didn’t say “Love thyself”, but love thy neighbour as thyself. Just trying to follow these two commandments is hard.
Anyone just loving themselves would struggle with any of these two. Self love doesn’t impress the Lord because the Lord did not show self love but He showed “selfless love”. To live like Jesus is hard because you have to sacrifice yourself daily for others, but the more you do that the more I believe you will feel the presence of the living God. Through prayer and through your daily duties.
I pray Lord that everyone realises the selfless sacrifice you gave on that wondrous cross that reconciled everyone who who listen to God. I pray that I obey your commands and give the Father the respect He demands. I pray that I do not just bloom and wither soon after but that the grain of faith within me will constantly urge me on to make something of this gift given by God, to do God’s work.
Amen
365 Exhortations 