Rules

Rules were made to protect us.

a prescribed guide for conduct or action according to Webster. I didn't grow up with very many rules. It was a setting where my parents trusted my actions and knew I had other people helping me make decissions so they hardly set rules for me. There were chores to be done however. "Cleanliness is next to Godliness." My mom never said that, but as I have grown up over the years, I am learning the value of being clean and orderly.



I don't have much, but what am I doing with what I have? And this is with my posessions. What about other area's of my life?



Are there any guidelines in my life that I am apt to follow? There are social guidelines, but when I am by myself, I question the rules I have set in my life. There aren't many. I like low standards so if I fail there is less condemantion. This could be sad for some people, but it is what I know.



I have been reading the weekly portions of the Torah these past few months. Some days are dry and filled with so many rules. But then there are days when I can see the application for me. Right now I am in the dry area. But back to the rules. Adonai, The Lord, gave these rules to Israel to set them apart.

"So now, Israel, all that Adonai your God asks from you is to fear Adonai your God, follow all his ways, Love him and serve Adoani your God with all your heart and all your being; to obey, for your own good, the commands and regulations of the Lord... (Duet 10.12-13)

See, I am stting before yo utoday a blessing and a curse- the belssing, if you listen to the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; and the curse, if you don't listen to the commands of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way I am ordering your today and follow other gods that you have not known.

Duet 11.26-28

The Lord asks them to not eat certain foods due to their uncleanliness, not bow down to forign gods, and not to associate with those who worship forign gods. Now, Moses and Aaron were constantly going before the Lord, pleading for the Lords wrath to be withheld and would give a sacrifice attoning for Israel's sin. At one point the Lord was so furious, He was ready to wipe them out and start over. But Moses reminded the Lord of all the promises He gave to Issac, Jacob and Abraham, and how forign people would not think that you were of your Word because the Lord lost his patience with Israel. If God would have destroyed Israel back then, then we would not have seen his compassionate heart or what His love truely is.

This is all in the OT, but Paul brings it up again to a more modern time, saying the same thing about not associating yourself with those who are immoral. Why?

But you have cleansed yourselves, you have been sta part for God, youahve come to be counted righteous through the power of the Lord Jesus the Messiah and the Spirit of God"

1 Corinthians 6.11