Rules, Rules, and more Rules. They serve a purpose but, if misapplied, can cause great harm. The British preacher Charles Spurgeon said: “I have found, in my own spiritual life, that the more rules I lay down for myself, the more sins I commit. The habit of regular morning and evening prayer is one which is indispensable to a believer’s life, but the prescribing of the length of prayer, and the constrained remembrance of so many persons and subjects, may lead to bondage, and strangle prayer rather than assist it.”

Over the next four weeks, we will focus on “rules.” Are they necessary? How many rules do we need in order to keep us on track in our walk with God? The Bible has much to say about rules. A related term we find in the Bible is “legalism.”

Monday – Colossians 2:6
A book entitled “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” encourages us to “begin with the end in mind.” The Apostle Paul put it this way: “As you therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.” Focus on two little words: “as” and “so.”

We began our relationship with Jesus by an act of faith. So, “as” we began by faith, “so” we continue—by faith. Many of us begin by faith, but then are convinced we must add rules in order to continue our relationship with Jesus. We live not by faith, but by rules. This is not what God intends.