Relieved

Written by cycleguy on November 18th, 2014

I began 2014 with a goal in mind when preaching. Christened “The Great Adventure,” I spent the entire year in the Gospels. Matthew/January. Mark/February. And so on. I repeated after 4 months. Not same sermons silly! Although I suspect a pastor could do that and some wouldn’t know. 🙂 All my personal Bible reading was also in the Gospels….until September. Since my plan for 2015 is dubbed “Freedom!!” (think William Wallace kind), I have been reading over and over Galatians through Colossians each week. One week Galatians; next week Ephesians; etc. I used my ESV Reader’s Bible and read through the Psalms (September/October) and Proverbs (October).

I also started reading through the Old Testament again. The past couple of days I have been slogging through chapters 25-31. Can I say this without being irreverent? Y-A-W-N!  For those who choose not to look, it is all the measurements and make up of the materials for the Tabernacle.

Now before you hang me out to dry…I know God had specific reasons for giving those instructions. (And that reason was not to give me a small chance to stare at the inside of my eyelids).

I can say this: combined with reading Galatians through Colossians there is little doubt in my mind the freedom Jesus offers through His death on the cross and resurrection sure beats all those sacrifices, blood-spattering, robes, and ceremonies. I enjoy my freedom from the confines of the Law and living in Grace. I’m relieved.

I hope you have come to realize the magnificence of GRACE. There’s nothing like it. Have you?

 

18 Comments so far ↓

  1. Jeff says:

    No I haven’t experienced that magnificence. I also have never felt the confines of the law. I really believe Thomas Paine spoke and accomplished more in terms of freedom. But I do agree that love is the answer. Not the unconditional love some say Jesus gives but the unconditional love he said we should give.

  2. Daniel says:

    I can only begin to image the sideshow of those sacrifice slaughters. Noise, pain, torture, blood, stench. What an absolutely pointless exercise that did nothing to absolve sin because it was done just to check off an item on one’s to-do list.

    • cycleguy says:

      I think the scene was one of horror in the eyes of those who witnessed the physical part. For the spiritual part, it was a great lesson to see what Christ would do in our place.

  3. the Old Adam says:

    The freedom that St. Paul wrote of in Galatians and that Jesus spoke of is the freedom from having to do anything at all to justify yourself, in God’s eyes. “It is finished.”

    Now that you don’t have to do anything…what will you do?

  4. Absolutely! My heart seriously breaks for those who choose to stay stuck in the law and not turn to Jesus and His provision.

  5. Dave says:

    Yes, I have. I still cherish that moment x number of years ago, experiencing God’s grace for the first time. And all the moments it has been exemplified in my life since that time. It’s a long story that I won’t go into.

    And to Jeff and you too, Bill (and myself): Concerning unconditional love (or anything, for that matter), if you say you can’t, you’re already defeated.

  6. Deb Wolf says:

    I’m so thankful for grace—God’s love in the person of Jesus. I spent too many years trying to “do it right.” Knowing His freedom is a relief. You’re right. I try to read through both the OT and NT each year. I think reading the OT makes me appreciate God’s gift of Jesus so much more.

    I just started again, but this time I’m not giving myself a finish date. I’m taking my time to study and absorb through note taking and commentary study. I’m so thankful for the gift of His Word.

    Thanks for sharing your reading schedule. I laughed when you said you don’t preach the same sermons. Rev always questions whether or not he could get away with it. 🙂

    • cycleguy says:

      Oh man, Deb, I cannot even begin to say how many years I tried to “do it right.” As expected, I failed. The freedom of grace was and is a lifesaver. Had to chuckle about Rev. I wonder but have not been bold enough to try it. 🙂

  7. I love your New Testament reading.

    • cycleguy says:

      Thanks larry. If I remember correctly you just finished preaching through Philippians this past summer and Galatians the summer before.

  8. Pam says:

    Oh, yes, Bill! And that freedom is new every morning! So thankful that Jesus fulfilled all those laws for me and for all of us.

  9. Grace is beautiful and I’m so thankful for it! Crazy that sometimes I can get duped into thinking I can do more if I set up a bunch of rules, but it does happen. Then I need more grace. 🙂 Thanks Bill.