Daily Devotional
God’s Laws are for Our Good
“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.”
1 John 3:4
August 19, 2021
Ponder This
In the physical universe there are laws. We don't break the law of gravity; we're broken on it. And in the moral universe there are laws. We have the Ten Commandments. We don't really break the Ten Commandments; we're broken on the Ten Commandments. When we transgress God's Ten Commandments, we have sinned. Sin makes us outlaws. We may be prone to think that we would be better off without the Law since the Law brings recognition of our sin. But this is not right. Moral law is for our welfare. If we didn't have the law of gravity here, we'd have to pull one another down off the ceiling. And moral law is also for our welfare. Every time God says, “Thou shalt not,” He's saying, “Don't hurt yourself.” Every time God says, “Thou shalt,” He is saying, “Help yourself to happiness.” God doesn't need anything; He has everything. God made these laws for us. When we transgress, we break God's Law and we break God's heart because God loves us.
- How have you experienced the Law as a means for your good?
- Think about being a child who must follow certain family rules for his good and about being an adult who must make rules for the good of the family? How does this help you understand the intention of the Law?
Practice This
Write out the Ten Commandments. Next to each commandment, write the ways that come to mind that this law serves for your good.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
