Bottom Line: Do What Pleases God

“You must be careful to keep all of my decrees and regulations by putting them into practice. I am the LORD.” [Leviticus 19.37]

First, let me say that I understand that, in Christ, our only obligation is to love God and love man. Furthermore, I understand that the blood of Jesus has redeemed all who believe from sin.

With that said, why or how do we pick and choose which of the decrees and regulations of God that we continue to keep and which we ignore today?

If, in fact we are in Christ, are we not forgiven of all sin? Bear with me... we say that we are exempt from the Sabbath rules (this is not just Saturdays, but all prescribed days of rest found in the OT), but we believe (for the most part) that murder is wrong.

It seems to me that people of the Bible today (myself very much included) are woefully ignorant of Whom we serve and why and how we serve Him. When it comes to these questions like I have presented here, we usually just shrug our shoulders and are content that we just don't know. And we keep going to church...

But is that okay? I don't think so.

According to today's OYCB reading, one might accuse a man practicing of homosexuality that the Bible declares such a practice as sin:

“Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin. [Leviticus 18.22]

But what do we say to all the clean-shaven men?

“Do not trim off the hair on your temples or trim your beards. [Leviticus 19.27]

If we think tattoos are okay today, then why not make our daughters become prostitutes?

“Do not cut your bodies for the dead, and do not mark your skin with tattoos. I am the LORD. “Do not defile your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will be filled with prostitution and wickedness. [Leviticus 19.28-29]

The Bible verses discussing both tattoos and selling our daughters into prostitution are right there back-to-back!

Is it really okay to treat the Bible like a buffet - to choose what we will adhere to and what we will ignore?

Our practices in regard to today's OYCB reading should horrify us! Shouldn't they?

Are we content to have a buffet-style explanation for what rules we obey and disobey?

Fast forward to Jesus... let's apply the question just above to Jesus' command for us to have faith:

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. [Mark 11.22]

Jesus defined that faith as such:

I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. [Mark 11.23-24]

Again, are we content to have a buffet-style explanation for our obedience or disobedience to what Jesus told us? Is faith an option?

It seems we have made God and His Word serve us, rather than the other way around.

And, then we wonder why God doesn't answer our prayers! Can we be so dull?

Am I on to something here? Or, am I about to lose touch with reality? If "Grace" covers tattoos, then is should cover homosexuality, right? If "Grace" covers a clean-shaven face, then it should cover murder, right? Call me crazy.

What a mess! What are we to do? Did Jesus give us any indication? Perhaps He did!

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” [Matthew 22.37-40]

It is correct that we are "no longer under the Law." However, we remain under obligation to Almighty God. Jesus was very clear that we are to love Him with all that is in us. But also, we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Everything we do must pass these two litmus tests! "Does my action please God?" and/or "Does my action cause offense to my neighbor?" should constantly be our self-evaluation.

So, what do I do? Do what pleases God and does not offend man!

But what if what I do in pleasing God offends man? Do what pleases God (the greatest commandment)!

What if what I do to not offend man displeases God? Do what pleases God (the greatest commandment)!

As we can see, if we are constantly self-evaluating by the standard Jesus laid out, we will be compelled to humility. Say what? Yes, humility - the opposite of pride - pride, the number one thing God hates... pride, the number one blinder of man... pride, the epitome of self-centeredness.

Father, I know that humility is the one thing You will not do for us. It must be our choice - it must be our devotion. Forgive me for my self-centeredness and pride. Forgive me for being so worldly.