Rules!!!!!!

I have been reading the book “Grace Walk” by Steve McVey and it has enlightened me on how we make Rules to be better Christians. Today’s Christian walk can be dictated by several different entities such as: 1. The Church – 2. Other Christians – 3. Myself  – 4. The Media.           We seem to need these extra rules in order to feel like we are living the Christian life – but we forget that the Christian walk is supposed to be easy and not built on allot of rules (Read below).
 
I went to Cowboy Church this last Sunday and the speaker spoke along the same topic and used this scripture from Paul.

Freedom From Human Rules

Colossians 2: 16-23 > Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Paul lays it out really good in this scripture – Christ is our guidance now…..
 
I have been one to lay down rules for myself in belief that it would make me a better Christian. For Example:

1. I must go to Church every Sunday!!!   If I go to church every Sunday under this belief, I feel sorry for the person sitting next to me – he will experience a negative person.   I go to Church now because I am excited to hear Pastor Shaun’s message and I like to fellowship with most of the people there.
2. I always felt guilty because I had not read the whole Bible!! I finally set down one year and did it. I have to tell you it was just reading and it did not have much of an impact on me.   I have learned that there needs to be this desire to Learn about the History in the Old Testament and a Hunger to learn about Jesus in the New Testament. If I read from this aspect it has a life changing impact on me.
3. I must sit down and have a set quiet time during the day to pray and study!!   I have to tell you that when I do this, I normally fall to sleep. I personally have learned to take Prayer Walks and focus on Praying throughout the day – and then set down during the day when times are calmer and read.   It works for me…

As you can see – there is a perception that I put upon myself that did not work – I needed to have a desire and passion to do each of these.   The more my Relationship grows with Jesus – the more the Holy Spirit supplies the emotions that are life changing.
 
In the book Grace Walk on the back of the cover it has a note:

Nothing you have ever done, nothing you could ever do, will match the incomparable joy of letting Jesus live His life through you. It is what makes the fire of passion burn so brightly in new believers. And it is what causes the light of contentment to dance in the eyes of mature believers who have learned the secret of Grace Walk.

AMEN!!!!
**Now do not get me wrong – there will be trials as we live the Christian Life, but we must always remember that Jesus is there walking and directing us through it all. Remember to let the Holy Spirit guide you as you go forward……  When we walk in Obedience to Jesus – contentment comes.
Bobbyg