I was going to post a very eloquent and thoughtful meditation from tonight in the prayer room. However, I didn’t get that far. All I have are some questions based on the word that have been running through me head. I thought I would share my questions and see if anyone has any answers.
So tonight I was reading the end of Deuteronomy. 27-32. As I am reading the blessings and curses for keeping the law, a thought hits me. “Why does God ask us to do things that he knows we can’t do?” This thought was very troubling to me. Especially because God askes me to do things for him all the time. In looking at the curses for disobedience (which turn out to be prophesies) it seems like God had no intention of ever having Israel complete the task that was set before them which was to “be holy as I am holy.” It is about righteousness.
Then I came to Deut 30:11-20. When I was reading this, my handy-dandy cross reference tool told me to go to Romans 10. This passage is talking about the difference between righteousness of the law and the righteousness of faith. So my questions are then, what does it mean to keep the law and what does it mean to be righteous? And in light of this how can I seek after righteousness?
I don’t have the answers. These are the musings of my spirit in the night. But if anyone has clarity on the subject, please feel free to share!
I think that God asks us to do things that we THINK we cannot in an effort to keep us striving to be in closer relationship. Even women and men that live their day to day lives explicitly to serve God need something to work for so that they do not become complacent.
If I ever get to a place that I stop asking questions, I pray that day to be my last. My goal is to seek now, and seek forever, the answers that bring me closer to God.
Not an answer to your great questions, but my thoughts none the less.
By: Rob Monroe on June 7, 2007
at 8:04 am
Telios, my friend…… telios.
Just remember, God doesn’t mind answering why… most of the time. In Luke, God at least told Joseph why he was going to Egypt…
I think the law in and of itself is a high standard so that we would know that we need grace, at least, that’s what Romans 5:12-21 said about it.
But above all else, telios.
By: xristosdomini on June 9, 2007
at 4:25 pm
The law was given so men could be in a place in which God could dwell with them. Hence the purification before the consecration. The entire point of us entering into righteousness is so that we may be fully as Christ is and therefore enter into deeper experience and knowledge of our beloved. The law is for our own good and to enter us into love. I mean you can’t really be intimate with a significant other if you just slept with someone else… Christ now living in us, how much more will righteousness bring us closer into communion, which is the goal.
By: Jonathan on June 13, 2007
at 1:59 am
The law proves that we can’t attain righteousness on our own. Even when we attain and fulfill all the laws, we then are confronted with that mere fact that we’re all under the curse of sin. Not even fulfilling the law will save us from this fact, this separation from God.
You are made righteous, with no varying degrees of righteousness, through Christ therefore are in right standing with God.
Seeking and thirsting after righteousness, is seeking and thirsting after Him.
Atleast, this is how I understand it.
By: Brandon on June 13, 2007
at 4:43 pm
Hey Charity –
I don’t have your email address, so I’m posting a comment to let you know….
I’m a daddy! YAY!
Guess that does tie into your post – I’m going to start having to answer such hard questions pretty soon to my little girl….. I hadn’t thought about that part yet!
By: Rob, Abbys Dad! on June 14, 2007
at 4:16 am