O What a wonderful subject!!! Our brother Paul is such an inspiration!!
How many times do we try to do the ' Christian' thing? We talk the talk, but without the walk, that's all it is, talk. Do not judge, yet how many of us can say that we are innocent of that sin? When we go on 'works' alone, I've found that I judge others : I read my bible, have you? I've prayed twenty times today, how about you? I've not cussed, I've not swore, I've not lied, I've not this, I've not that... wow, the mind can take something as innocent as good deeds and turn it around to this selfish pride! That's where the Pharisee, the Sadducees, and I'm going to say it... Christians flaw. Our eyes turn from God, and towards ourselves... how much better we are at keeping the 'laws'. How much more I can than you can..
When the pharisee questioned Jesus about the sabbath, Jesus said, I am Lord over the Sabbath. Why? Why did Jesus say that? To whom did he say it too??? To the Pharisee? Or to all of us who look to the law to make ourselves right before God... who think that our 'deeds' are better than His love.
The Laws of the Sabbath were given to man, to be obeyed by man. A rule given not to restrict man, but to give him much needed rest( a gift from God) yet man started to put himself above the gift, making it a law unto himself.... turning it from what God intended it to be, into a contest of who can do it better, a way to weed out those that aren't as 'perfect'.
I see these 'pharisees' still alive today, among us, in our churches, in our homes, in ourselves. I've been one myself, and I am regretful when I say this, if I am honest, sometimes I catch myself doing these things still. I catch myself making a ritual out of God's Word sometimes. I read because it is what a 'Christian' does, and Praise God, when those thought come into my mind, I don't learn a single thing. Why do I say praise God? Why am I happy over this? Because, it is done for man and not for God. God knows, He knows my heart. He knows when I seek Him with my whole heart, or when I seek Him because I brag before man verses I have learned, words that I have memorized. He knows, and when I do this, He is not apart of it. He does not fill my mind with anything, none of His Wisdom in which to understand... none of His insight... nothing more than words.
Here's a good example. There was a woman, that knew almost the entire bible. You ask her a verse, and by memory, she could tell you word for word what that verse was. She spent her time memorizing, learning the Word. The problem was, if you asked her what that verse meant... she had no clue! She didn't understand the Words she read! Her mind was filled with truth, but it never reached any farther... it never touched her heart. Is this what we seek? Is this the meaning of true worship? To study before man? To learn before man? Has God not given us His answer to those that do things before man.... have they not received their reward?
And that's what our brother Paul was talking about... the work means nothing if not done with love, God's love.
One thing that astonishes me is when a Christian says, they are a good person, and then they list all the things they've done... they are doing... What has God told us? None of us are good, none of our deeds make us good, only God himself, through His mercy and His grace make us good. Yet I forget that. I've listed my deeds, I've listed my works, and bragged of my accomplishments. Yet, in the end, that's all it is... words. It means nothing.
Now, work with Love, God's love, wow, what endless blessings, what amazing gifts He lavishes upon us! Like Saul, who became Paul, he was blessed with Truth, with Wisdom, with Strength, and Guidance. He stood in the Presence of the Almighty, and he stopped seeking the approval of man! And his works were blessed because they were done for God not man. Look at what he accomplished with not his own strength, his own deeds, but Gods! The ritual was broken, and the faith was increased. How much I want to be like Paul, how much I long to put aside the thoughts of man, and long only to please our Father!
Praise God for His Patience with me, for His Love. Praise Him, because He knows what potential I have, the potential to put aside the ritual and to grow in the faith, in the wisdom and the works He has given to me to do. Who but God has that kind of Love?