"He who obeys instructions guards his life, but he who is contemptuous of his ways will die." -- Proverbs 19:16

There is no denying that Jesus was a messenger of love and grace.  And there is no denying that the gospel of Jesus turned the established religion upside down.  His message was one of faith over works.  It was one that turned away from the hyperlegalism of the day to a more humble and forgiving form of faith.  And I do not deny that the heart of the gospel is found in freedom from religious law.  However, that does not mean that laws, rules, and guidelines are unnecessary.  On the contrary-- we need them.  Rules inform us on how to behave with one another.  Laws provide a means of protection and defense.  To be a Christian free from the law does not give license to live a lawless life.  Instead, it means that there is a higher law-- God's law of love-- which should be the plumb bob-- the guide-- for all other laws.  It is the law that supercedes and provides a model for what laws should be constructed.  If say, there is a law against touching one's lips to another (perhaps in some cultures?), but one needs CPR, do you obey and deny it?  No.  God's law of love dictates that you save the life.  Jesus himself said he wasn't abolishing the law, but fulfilling it.

Readings:  1 Chronicles 24:1-26:11; Romans 4:1-12; Psalm 13:1-6; Proverbs 19:15-16

"But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."-- Romans 3:21-24

To a 21st century person, these words are confusing.  Who is Paul talking about when he uses terms like "Jews" and "Gentiles"?  Who was he talking to?  Paul was a powerful figure in his day.  He was a practicing Jew and a Roman citizen.  He was a scholar and a respected authority on the law.  And from his faith upbringing, he was taught that Israel were the people of God.  They were God's people, and in their mind, God belonged to them as well.  But Paul is setting the record straight, and telling his own people that they do not have exclusive claim to the Almighty.  He tells them that all people (Gentiles were non-Jews) belong to God, and that through Christ, all can know life and salvation in him.  This was hard to swallow for those who felt as though they belonged to the ultimate club.  They were insiders who had to share the prize they held on to so dearly.  But how can any lay claim to God over another?  It sounds silly in our day, doesn't it?  Or does it?  Have you recently heard anyone speaking condescendingly to others "by the authority of God" or "in the name of Jesus Christ"?  There are still plenty around who have no problem using the Lord's name in vain for their own agenda and gain. 

Readings:  1 Chronicles 22:1-23:32; Romans 3:9-31; Psalm 12:1-8; Proverbs 19:13-14

"A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense." -- Proverbs 19:10

While Grace is the thread that is most seen in New Testament writings, it was neither absent nor foreign in the Old Testament.  In this proverb, we see that the writer understood the spirit of grace.  In our youth, we can think ourselves to be so "right", so "in the know", so judgmental of others, that we often take a hard line against others when they falter.  At times, we even go so far as to define a person by their failings.  But that is where the power of grace comes in.  When we are filled with God's love, we come to view people for who they are, recognizing their brokenness, their struggles, their needs... and we love them anyway.  If we live long enough, we find that life humbles us to the point where we ourselves realize our need for grace.  Be gentle with each other.  Share the love and grace of Christ with as many as you can.

Readings:  1 Chronicles 19:1-21:30; Romans 2:25-3:8; Psalm 11:1-7; Proverbs 19:10-12

"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things." -- Romans 2:1

Paul calls us out here.  For who among us are sinless?  Who among us have not fallen?  Who among us stands in a place to judge?  Our faith is not a judmental one.  In John, Jesus himself says that he did not come to condemn the world, but to save it.  So stop judging all you judgers... remove the log from your own eye before you worry about the speck in your brother's.  Uh oh... I think I'm realizing that I'm judging the judgers... what do I do now?

Readings:  1 Chronicles 16:37-18:17; Romans 2:1-24; Psalm 10:16-18; Proverbs 19:8-9

"Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?" -- Psalm 10:1

The psalmist was quite familiar with the agonizing question as to why bad things happen to good people.  In that culture righteousness was understood to lead to blessing and vice-versa.  If you were good, good things happened.  If you were bad, bad things happened.  To work hard to be a good and faithful person, and then for bad things to happen did not add up.  This was the quandry which challenged their faith more than anything.  Since the New Testament, there has been a shift in that theology.  The philosophy that undergirds the New Testament doesn't see quite the same direct correlation as the Old does.  It is more comfortable in the abstract.  It deals with concepts of faith, hope, and love.  Humans don't control God's actions so much with their behavior... but neither is God distant or aloof.  In fact, in many ways God's even closer, because he's experienced through the love of each person.  So when the psalmist asks why God is standing far off, I would argue he didn't have the same understanding of God as Jesus taught.  In good times and bad, God is not far.  God is near.  God is here. 

Readings:  1 Chronicles 15:1-16:36; Romans 1:18-32; Psalm 10:1-15; Proverbs 19:6-7

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..." -- Romans 1:16

What about the gospel would make one ashamed?  I'm really interested to know.  For if you come to know and understand the gospel, you find that it really is good news.  It is a message of hope, of truth, and of life.  If someone attacks it, from what vantage are they attacking?  If someone dismisses or discredits it, then they are not hearing it for what it is.  Therefore, do not be ashamed of it, and do not be afraid to proclaim it... unless you don't know it.  If you don't, then please come to know it before you speak of it to others.  Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

Readings:  1 Chronicles 12:19-14:17; Romans 1:1-17; Psalm 9:13-20; Proverbs 19:4-5

"It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way." -- Proverbs 19:2

How relevant for our time is this passage.  If you're ever on Facebook, or through email get alarming messages with unbelievable claims, you see what zeal without knowledge looks like.  It's when you read something like SENATOR PROPOSES BILL REQUIRING BABIES TO BE TAXED.  Good thing we have Snopes and other fact-checking groups to check the validity of the rumors.  I wonder what makes people want to hurt the people they're speaking of so badly so as to mislead others through telling lies and spreading smear?  And the sad thing is, most people don't check the facts.  We get so caught up in the emotion of the claim, or share the negative view of the person who's the subject of the rumor, that we forward the message on... with zeal and without knowledge.  As a people of faith,  we must speak from a different view that is measured and informed.  And we should show little tolerance for the pervasive lying that flows so freely as though it were normal in our culture today.  Sometimes it's okay to be a rebel without a cause, but don't be a rebel without a clue.

Readings:  1 Chronicles 11:1-12:18; Acts 28:1-31; Psalm 9:1-12; Proverbs 19:1-3