Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. - Galatians 3:23-25

Dear Jesus, it is so easy to see the Christian faith as a set of theological precepts and rules to govern our lives. But what you have done by bursting forth from heaven and living a perfect life for me has rendered all religious rules obsolete for producing righteousness. Your sacrifice has removed my fear of punishment too. Now I live by your love. Your moral commands are now something that free me from myself and give me a way to know that I am pleasing you. All other rules are just guides that help me learn to love. They do not threaten or define me. Sometimes I even need to break those man-made rules in order to show love for someone you put in my life. Help me to know the difference between godly love by breaking a man-made rule and simply using my freedom as an excuse to be rebellious. And help me to be a lover of all people because I am a lover of you, oh God. AMEN

God's love, shown to us in Christ, makes us trust him so much that we want to do what pleases him even when it's hard or unpopular.

Additional Readings: Luke 6:1-11, Romans 13:10, Galatians 5:1-12