Follow The Rules

We’ve grown up, all of our lives, with a mandate to follow the rules, color in the lines, obey the law of the land, and even to do the speed limit.

We are applauded and often rewarded when we conform to an image, or someones guidelines.

We are punished and made to feel small when we fail to live up to the rules.

Think about it, from baking and cooking, all the way to every single dietary weight loss system there is, for the most part, it’s really about the rules and guidelines.

It’s all about “Following the Rules”!

We are living in a time when we are learning how to coexist with a deadly virus. This is not the first time. But it is our time. It’s not just the current pandemic we’re dealing with, but it’s the common sense way of living that we are having to learn, and re-learn.

It makes me wonder how our lives will relax after this passes.

We are hypersensitive, but the time will come when we loosen the rules and guidelines. Presto! Before you know it we’re back to where we once were.

Let me give you a personal example:

I have this young child memory of a disease that was rampant. Early 60’s, perhaps. Emphysema, I think. As we traveled with my dad’s parents somewhere, the fear was palpable to this young boy… Roll down the windows, fresh air will blow the disease out of here…

That’s what I remember.

What was it? Not sure. Did it work? I have absolutely no clue!

Today

So, today, we are all confined to a set of guidelines, rule of law, and common sense. We are told to Follow the Rules. But, who do we follow?
Are we following a man, a political ideology, or some rules that have always been…so we will always do… and will always get what we’ve always gotten…

I want to point our attention to all the resources that pop up to help us know how we should act and live during this hypersensitive time.

• Yellow Journalism – No! Flee from it! Spam mail, internet news and advertising, etc.
• Media Mainstream – The problem is that they are in the business to sell advertising space and become #1. See the problem? They are driven by the bottom line.
• Politics – Okay. Poly is many, and tics are “blood sucking” creatures.
• Center for Disease Control – Now, we may be getting close to the focus. Scientists and doctors who are studying every imaginable disease and can tell us how to protect ourselves.
• Web sites, articles, journals, and this POST CARD….

What we are learning is this…

We don’t know everything we should know in order to stay free of contamination, nor how to fight it if we are affected. They are already talking about mutated versions that will probably be with us for a long time to come!

A Different Path

Let me angle ourselves away from this current crisis and point to a long-term solution. This solution will not rid the world of a disease or the sin that is the underlying principle of so man. Rather. This solution is eternal. It’s reward system is out of this world.

So, if we are going to follow anyone, who has the reputation to follow.

• Who has the answers?
• Who can provide the assistance?
• Where do we go when trouble is in our way?

Jesus came on the scene and it was announced that he was here.

Angels proclaimed, a star led the wise men, a king asked his council and they told him of the prophesy… The angel spoke to a virgin, ministered to her perspective husband, and even provided a forerunner (John the Baptist)…

Everything was done so that those who were watching would realize… The Messiah Has Come! But it was 30 years after his birth that Jesus started his ministry. He goes to the wilderness for fasting and testing, and comes out of that experience ready to reveal his mission.

His first message?

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say,
Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:17 (KJV)

If you need a rule or guideline to live by, Jesus tells us that Repentance must be at the top of the list. In fact, Jesus uses repentance as a portion of his model prayer for us to follow when we pray.

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matthew 6:9-13 KJV

Let me tell you a rule to follow…

You must forgive, or you will not be forgiven.

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.But, he cannot do it alone because he know his time is limited.
Matthew 6:14-15 KJV

His Ministry

He begins to call certain men to him…

And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. Matthew 4:18-20 KJV

We’ve learned their names over the years, but know this, these were not the only followers! Jesus ministers to crowds, and they follow him and his message.

He’s not like other leaders. He’s not protesting in the streets, rather, he’s:

• Teaching
• Praying for in them public and private, with words we know and don’t know.
• Healing,
• Feeding
• Using miracles to expand his message and take care of his creation.
• Giving them an example on how to live and love.
• Commissioning and sending

He’s looking inside the heart of his creation and realizing how evil and corrupt their world is. He condemns the wrongness and lies, but teaches truth and shows love. His love for people and meeting the needs of the day were huge!

From the woman at the well (John 4), to the possessed man in the tomb of the Gadarenes (Luke 8), to the paralytic man who was let down through the roof while he was teaching (Mark 2)… The examples are nearly endless…

Jesus came with a purpose…

What was his reason for being here? Reconcilment is his goal. Reaching the lost is his reason. (Luke 19:10)

We are living in a time when people follow strange leaders, doctrines and rules… But Jesus changes the rules and teaches us this is the time to follow him.

It’s simple.

Let’s change the idea of “Following Rules” to “Following Jesus”.

It’s not asking the Question: What Would Jesus Do
It’s following his example: Do What Jesus Did….