Follow These Simple Rules

I had an awesome time in Salt Springs, Florida this past weekend!  It was amazing to see all my family, and especially amazing to see how much kids and grand kids have grown.  I didn't even recognize some of them.  Each family had their own personal cottage for the weekend, and I stayed in #17.  It was about as nice as being at home.  One thing that kind of amused me, though, was a form that was left on the coffee table for tenants.  It read, "Welcome to our cottage.  Please follow these simple rules."  It did seem simple, at first. There were only 8 rules...until I noticed there were some on the other side of the form, too.  The flip-side contained 14 more,  for a total of 22 "simple" rules.


In the Old Testament of the Bible, God gave Moses certain "rules" to follow.  Known as the Mosaic Law, those rules were intended for the people of Israel.  Such rules in the Old Testament covered a variety of topics including the Sabbath (seventh day), animal sacrifices, the Levitical priesthood, circumcision, special holy days, burning incense, tithing, instrumental music, and dancing in worship.  I have to admit that I have a very hard time just trying to remember all those rules, and I can only imagine how hard it must have been to obey all of them.  But the good news, at least for us today, is that these rules are no longer binding.  God gave the rules, and only He can change them, which He did when He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins.  Hebrews Chapter 8 says,

"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah - not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant . . ." says the LORD. “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days," says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people . . . In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away."


Father, thank-you for the New Covenant that is Jesus Christ.  I personally accept it and will always have my faith in Him.  In Jesus name, Amen.