Living in the Spirit
November 12, 2015

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10:15-18

And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,
‘This is the covenant that I will make with them
   after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
   and I will write them on their minds’,
he also adds,
‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’
Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

What is in a law? We have all kinds of them you know. Merriam Webster Dictionary defines law as

1. : a binding custom or practice of a community: a rule or mode of conduct or action that is prescribed or formally recognized as binding by a supreme controlling authority or is made obligatory by a sanction (as an edict, decree, rescript, order, ordinance, statute, resolution, rule, judicial decision, or usage) made, recognized, or enforced by the controlling authority
2. : the whole body of such customs, practices, or rules constituting the organic rule prescribing the nature and conditions of existence of a state or other organized community*

This definition paints a broad swath. A mode of conduct makes me think of rules of etiquette. There is a difference between a host who just follows all the rules of etiquette sets the table just right, sends the appropriately timed invitations and thank you notes and so forth, but does nothing more, and the host who does all those things as second nature but always makes guests feel at ease and assures that they all know they are wanted and loved at the gathering. The rules of etiquette have been written on their hearts and in their minds.

So too are we required to write the rules of human endeavor and exchange on our hearts and not just practice them to prevent us from getting into trouble. Oklahoma finally last year passed a law about texting while driving. It took two police officers getting kill to get the legislation passed. The truth is that if that law had been written on our hearts and if we care about the safety of ourselves and others, it would never have been needed.

Prayer: Lord, make us mindful of how loving one another is expressed in our daily lives in subtle and obvious ways and guide our responses accordingly. Amen.

*http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/law

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 American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.