Dustin Coombs – Slovakia

Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. ² And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. ³ And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” ⁴ And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. ⁵ And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. ⁶ The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. (Mat 3:1-6)

What might I have in common with the Pharisees who sought to destroy Jesus? Perhaps more than I would like to admit.

There is a religious rule monster inside all of us. He likes rules and their consequences because it makes life simple and understandable. Do this and get that!” Rules help him to feel as if he is in control and he will do almost anything to keep up this illusion. This rule monster whispers lies: Do it my way and you will be free; but also: Do it my way or else! In his heart there is only room for justice, not love nor forgiveness. This monster makes us hard of heart. He destroys us and others. The religious, like those who watched Jesus in this event, are driven by this rule monster.

Can we afford to let this monster live or give him any room in our lives? If not, what can save us? Only the loving embrace of our Savior. Without entering my King’s embrace each day I return – at least in part – to the rule monster and his ways. One who cannot accept a freely-given love, cannot give it. In fact, such a person will fight against this kind of love, even seeking to destroy it – all in the name of rules and what is right.

Rules, of course, help us to understand love; they are like signposts pointing us to life and to Him who is life. Yet life is not about rules and their enforcement; rather, it is about doing good to others and saving life (verse 4)…like our King. 

Personally, what might this look like? As I think of my kids, who are 9, 6, and 4, I recognize that we have many family rules, such as:

• One person talks at a time at the dinner table.
• Even if you are upset, find a way to talk nicely to your sibling.
• Think about how others might feel before you do something.

My wife and I strive to explain rules so that the kids understand them in the context of life and, most especially, in a context of love. This is good. But when the kids continue to break the rules, I find that I am not always reinforcing love. Instead, I am often reinforcing law.

In my frustration, typically when there is a time-crunch, I do not always take the time to come alongside them and walk them through the situation. I forget that people, including our kids, are not well-motivated by external factors. We need internal change, so I must meet them at this internal place. What they need is a walking partner – someone to take them aside, hug them, talk them through it and how to make it right, hug them again, and walk with them as they take steps in a better direction. I want to use questions which point them in the right direction instead of using judgmental statements. I want to reinforce love and life, not law! 

If our role is to join our King in His work, making all things new through the coming of His Kingdom, what might it look like for us to reinforce love and life, instead of law as we join Him in shepherding those God has given us?