Service Manual – The Use of the Law

Service Manual

Matthew 5:17-19

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Great in the Kingdom of heaven! What a thought!

Of course, “greatness” in the divine economy is not the same as “greatness” among the “under-the-sun” people of our materialistic and sensual age. In the realm where Christ is King, “greatness” translates into service to others (Mark 10:42-45). We are great when we are caring for our neighbors as the first priority.

But how can we learn to do that? Is there a general manual of instruction that leads us to look out for the wellbeing of our neighbors, and to care for them in love?

See this Law of God? Look no further.

This is what the Law of God shows us how to do! Think of the last six commandments: How does each of those demonstrate love for neighbors? Can you identify one act of “Kingdom greatness” you might take up on behalf of a neighbor today?

Lord, lead me this day to…

Daily meditation in the Law of God helps us along the path of holiness, righteousness, and goodness (Rom. 7:12). Order your copy of The Law of God, a compilation of the Mosaic Law for contemporary believers, by going to www.MyParuchia.com, point your browser to “Publications,” then click on the drop-down option, “Waxed Tablet Publications.”

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In the Gates is a devotional series on the Law of God by Rev. T.M. Moore.

T.M. Moore is editor of the Worldview Church. He serves as dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He is the author or editor of twenty books, and has contributed chapters to four others. His essays, reviews, articles, papers, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and international journals, and on a wide range of websites. His most recent books are The Ailbe Psalter and The Ground for Christian Ethics (Waxed Tablet).

Scripture quotations in this article are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (c) copyright 2001, 2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Editor’s note: The use of a translation other than the Authorised Version in an article does not constitute an endorsement in whole or in part by The Christian Observer.