I’m a lawbreaker, how about you? Have you ever blown through a red light, not totally stopped at a stop sign, or told a little white lie? If you have, you’ve broken the law. “But wait” you may be thinking, “those are little things, I’m really a good person.” Yep. But James tells us that everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. (Hebrews3: 4)
The law can be a cruel taskmaster, constantly checking us out to see how we’re measuring up with societal and relational standards. Why do we strive so hard to keep the law? Because we believe it will produce the set outcomes we desire. But does it? Heck no. Look around. Jails are full, crime is rampant, and relationships are in trouble, not to mention the bondage we’re living in trying to keep all the rules.
The problem with the law is it doesn’t always work, and if it does, we may find ourselves doing the right things with the wrong motives. The point? The law can’t effect a heart change. Why? Because it wasn’t designed to do so, the purpose of the law was to show us we couldn’t keep it! We needed something more. We needed Christ to show us another way.
So what does God expect of us if he knows we can’t keep the law? He expects us to trade in the list of rules we’re trying so hard to keep in order to get him to like us a little more, for a grace filled life of rest.
What does that look like? Consider Paul and Peggy.
They came to see me because of marital problems. Both we’re holding each other to a performance based acceptance system. She didn’t accept him because he was passive, didn’t spend money wisely, and shut her out. He didn’t accept her because she was angry, critical, and a bad housekeeper. Neither had met the other’s standards or expectations. Each time one of them was disappointed in the others performance the sinful passions of their flesh (anger, control, withdrawal) were aroused producing fruit for death. (Ro. 7:5)
I asked them if they would be willing to accept each other on the basis God accepted them. I reminded them that God accepts people who are imperfect; who are in fact lawbreakers. I asked them if they could release each other from the expectations of the law, and be willing to find a new way to accept on another. They agreed to try.
What is this new way? It’s the way of grace. It’s learning to appropriate the righteousness of Christ and give up on the law. If we appropriate the gift of righteousness, it will reign in and through us and bear fruit for life in all our relationships. How? By allowing Christ to demonstrate his life to those around us---even those who prove difficult.
If you’re tired of living under standards, trade them in for the gift of righteousness and try grace. You’ll find the peace and rest amazing.