Kingdom Building

October 16, 2019

Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:97-104
Oh, how I love your law!
   It is my meditation all day long.
Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
   for it is always with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers,
   for your decrees are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged,
   for I keep your precepts.
I hold back my feet from every evil way,
   in order to keep your word.
I do not turn away from your ordinances,
   for you have taught me.
How sweet are your words to my taste,
   sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Through your precepts I get understanding;
   therefore I hate every false way.

I drove over 3,000 miles on a road trip this summer. Occasionally, I would turn onto a highway where I did not see a speed limit sign for miles. In some places, I drove long distances without seeing another truck or car. In other places, vehicles surrounded me, but it was impossible to ascertain the speed limit because some drivers were sailing by me while others were driving more slowly. It was a relief to finally see that familiar road sign that stated the speed limit. When I am in familiar places, I usually know the speed limit and do not have to think about it.

God’s laws provide helpful guidance for moving through life productively. I probably heard as a child at some point that breaking God’s laws led to an eternity of fire and brimstone, but that idea never really stuck to me. What I did incorporate was that God’s laws, particularly the Ten Commandments, were proven ways of being that made my relationship with God and with others work. Failure to adapt to the laws made life a whole lot more complicated and unpleasant. I also learned at an early age that one had to pay the consequences of his or her behavior and laws like loving our neighbor as we love ourselves was a short cut to avoiding bad consequences. Many of the laws in the Hebrew Bible are what we call civil law today and relate to things like the traffic example above. Others are etiquette rules. Both civil laws and etiquette rules change over time as the world changes. Jesus made it easier for all of us when he said,  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’ (Matthew 22:37-40)

Prayer: Thank you for giving us guidance in living life that is made abundant with love. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.