God's Rules

Your favorite football team is pressed against the opposing team goal line. They explode with a perfect pass, break several tackles, execute perfect blocks and run the ball all the way down the field for what appears to be a flawlessly executed touchdown. However, because a team player broke a rule, a foul is called, no points are awarded and the entire team is penalized instead. As the text indicates the same applies to God’s rules.

And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules(2 Timothy 2:5). God’s rules are fixed and unbending with no infractions left undiscovered or excused. Convenience and situational ethics can never take precedence over what is revealed in the Word of God.

The systematic exposition of the Word of God and the proclamation of an often offensive Biblical gospel must never be displaced by that which the world and un-regenerated sinners would find palatable and pleasing. Unfortunately, much of the modern church growth movement has succumbed to this temptation and produced numbers instead of disciples. The church must not ignore God’s rules in an attempt to make the end justify the means.

God’s rules apply individually as well. God is always faithful and when we obey God’s rules we are demonstrating a similar loyalty in our relationship to God. Let us faithfully obey God’s rules in such practices as personal and family devotions, prayer, effective witnessing, submission to authority, humility, contentment, integrity, forgiveness, generosity and love.