Thoughts From 1 Timothy - Day 3

 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.  1 Tim. 1:8-11

         For every negative there is a positive. For example, don't lie is negative and tell the truth is positive. Don't eat from that one tree is negative and eat from thousands of others is positive. Don't have sex with someone your same sex and don't have sex until you are married is negative, while have sex with someone of the opposite sex when you are married is positive.

       Prior to accepting by faith Christ's forgiveness on the cross, the law was all negative to us. We saw it as a bunch of "dont's" because God was seen as a cruel taskmaster out to ruin our fun and freedom. Paul said in Romans 7 that once he learned coveting was wrong, all he wanted to do is covet. Even though there was only one rule in the garden, Satan came to Eve and focused on the one negative rather than every positive created for them in paradise. Not only did we focus on wanting to do the negatives when we were unsaved, if we did try to do something good, somehow in the midst of that we were breaking a negative. For example, giving to the poor - positive. Seeking recognition for being a good person - negative. Loaning a possession to someone - positive. Expecting reciprocation - negative. Jesus talks a lot about things like this in the sermon on the mount as He exposed people's (especially Pharisees) goodness as fraudulent saying unless we are perfect, we can't get to Heaven.

      When we by faith receive forgiveness of sins and salvation, Christ's perfection is granted to us. Now those desires to do the negatives gradually get replaced by desires to do the positives because God's Spirit lives in us and changes our desires to His. When we do positive things, it isn't done for self-seeking reasons but rather a desire to please the one who made us and gave His life for us and it is actually the power of the Spirit, who has only pure motives, doing it through us. When we do the things that reflect His character and His design for humans, it gives Him glory. It makes Him happy.

      I was thinking, the law is a bit like a policeman. The policeman has a negative function- punish law breakers, and a positive function - create a safe environment for law abiding citizens to live in. If you are a law breaker, the last thing you want to see is a cop. If you are obeying the law, it gives you a sense of freedom when you see him and encouragement to continue to do the right thing.

     The real question is - Is the main desire of your heart to do whatever makes God happy or what makes you happy? The surprise is that the only way for you to be happy is to make God happy. That's how He designed us.