Mercy Triumphs over Judgment!!!!

Last night, I was reading John Crowder's new book, "The Ecstasy of Loving God," and I came across this really insightful part. John highlights the different stages of a typical Christian's growth process. He speaks both of the ethical stage (when interest or zeal for Jesus manifests in extremely rigorous rule-keeping) and the spiritual stage (which you enter into after you realize you are utterly powerless to keep all the rules in your strength). Check out what he wrote:

"Although the ethical stage has taught me to deny self for the greater good, I have also learned to rely on its moral constructs instead of the person of God. I have learned to rely on an ethical framework of right and wrong. I know the difference between good and evil--but I am not called to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Instead I am called to eat from the Tree of Life, which is the living person of Jesus. The law is not alive. Ethics cannot intoxicate me. We should not live for goodness in general, but we live for God. Many people like a system of do-gooding, but God Himself is left out of the picture...In the ethical sphere, one is constantly faced with his or her own inability to fulfill religious obligation. But there is a place of faith and grace and intimate relationship with the Creator that lies beyond this realm."

In essence, what John is saying is that as believers, it is extremely easy to fall into a pattern of religious ritual and morality completely divorced from the intimate relationship with God that we are invited into. While likely it springs from a pure heart of devotion, the fruit is never good. Jesus came to pave the way back into the holy place of intimacy with God...after 4000+ years of separation from God, finally man was invited back into the union, fellowship, abiding that was lost in the garden. I often hear alot of talk/questions about the laws of the Bible--specifically New Testament "laws". Most people are ok with tossing out the Old Testament because they've convinced themselves somehow the New Testament is "more true" or "more applicable" than the Old. But then you're still left with questions like this: "If you believe the whole Bible, why don't women have to wear hats in church today?" And here's the answer: God did not replace Old Testament law with New Testament law. God replaced Old Testament law with relationship--which is what He has really longed for all along. We no longer live by any written law AT ALL!!! Not New Testament, not Old Testament--we do not live by ANY law, other than the law of the Spirit, which is written on our hearts by the living, moving, breathing spirit of God. The Bible--law, prophet, wisdom, whatev--is THE PRIMARY escort into the intimate knowing of God--if you read with discernment and a spirit of revelation, it will teach you things about who God is. BUT! The Bible is not meant to replace GOD Himself. Jesus is the one we want to know...not just the words on the page.

So as I was praying last night, the Lord started unfolding a good bit of new revelation for me on this...and I am just so pumped I had to share it!!! Jesus is a PERSON! Not a robot...which is how we often treat Him. It's so fun to get to know Him as He truly is. Below is an excerpt from my journal last night!

"The epic battle in the heart of man--the most primitive battle that man faces--the most basic, most vile, and most prevalent, most difficult to get rid of, the most ancient struggle is that of pride. Which is ultimately idolatry springing from selfishness. It is this sin that caused Satan to fall. It is this sin that lured Adam and Eve to fall. It is this sin that caused Israel to be captured, taken away, and dispersed--multiple times. It is the sin that brought condemnation upon the Pharisees. As contradictory as it sounds, it is the Spirit of Religion, which is the opposite of a Spirit of Sonship. Religion glorifies the law and our self-righteous attempts to live up to it. Sonship submits to the Father and listens for His voice, and obeys out of love. Why do we have a tendency to make religious rules, codes, etc. (not referring to governmental laws--but extraneous religious protocols and restrictions)? Because this detaches us from life/love--which is uncomfortable to our flesh. Our flesh has been trained since the fall to desire KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL--to achieve perfection and divine status on our own--as Satan said to Eve--"that we would be like God, knowing good and evil." It is built into our sin nature--to yearn for an impersonal force to open our eyes to truth--ultimately so that we can glorify ourselves for "figuring it out" or "making it" or "being self-sufficient." We want to make it on our own, without help, so we can be like God--it is ancient!!! We don't want to be utterly, totally, helplessly dependant on anyone!! Unfortunately (to our fleshly pride) whether we like it or not, we are dependent on Him--for godlness...as well as our next breath! And everything in-between. Praise the Lord He allows us to stumble so that we realize we need Him before we truly believe we can do it alone. Praise the Lord He stops us before we finish building our towers of Bablel!! It's His mercy!! And wouldn't you know--if we would just calm down, submit to our Dad, and rest in our position--dependent, as a son, not striving as a slave--it's alot easier, more fruitful, and soooo much more pleasurable. Who knew it was actually fun to just talk to God and get to know Him as a person and not as an ethical code serving as an expedient to my self-glorification?! Who knew Eden was alot more fun when they just ate from the tree of life?!"

-stuart