For Life – Foundations of a Worldview

For Life
Foundations of a Worldview

Leviticus 18:4, 5

“You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.”

We have said that the Biblical worldview, which is revealed as a cornerstone of divine revelation in the Law of God, is a spiritual worldview. It comes to us from beyond this world, from God Himself. But this should not be understood to mean that this worldview applies only to “spiritual” matters. The Biblical worldview is not a narrow, “religious” understanding of one particular aspect of human life; it speaks to all of life and counsels the redeemed and covenant people of God concerning how they may know fullness of life, peace, and joy in the Lord.

Thus the Law addresses the inner concerns of the human life—heart, mind, and conscience. It teaches us how to discipline our souls so that all our words and deeds may be unto justice and love. The Law guides us in how to conduct relationships of truth and love, beginning in the home, working out from there to our neighbors, and addressing all the various relational demands of living in society with others. The Law speaks of matters of justice, culture, government, economics, and religious life. It guides us in the use of our personal gifts, abilities, and resources. It counsels us concerning how to show the blessings of God to those outside the pale of God’s covenant and redemption.

The Law even outlines our responsibilities toward the created order, how we must use and care for the rich resources of the creation all around us.

By learning the Law of God we may expect to gain the wisdom and heart of God for all of life. As the Law, like the fire in Moses’ bush, fills our lives with the presence of God, so we, through obedience to God’s Law, bring the blessings of His covenant to every person, situation, role, and responsibility of our own lives.

God knows how to unpack the blessings of His redemption to His people and the world, and He has determined that this great work should begin in our knowledge of and obedience to His Law.

Act: If God is correct, that we may expect to “live” in the Law of God, what does this suggest for those who ignore the Law, or who deny its role in the life of faith? Talk with a Christian friend about this question.

Jesus came proclaiming the Kingdom of God—another primary theme of Scripture. Order a copy of The Gospel of the Kingdom from our online store, and learn how you can become more effective at proclaiming this wonderful Good News.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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