“Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished!
When there is a high standard in any area, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. When we read the Ten Commandments we often arrive at a familiar experience, we look at our lives and realize we do not measure up. So, what are we to do with these commands? For many, the Old Testament seems all about the law and the New Testament seems all about grace. They seem like different stories. This won’t make sense until we see what ties it together, Jesus. Jesus was not just the bridge between two different things, He was the fulfillment of the Old Testament. Because of Him, we can see that the Old Testament is not primarily about the law, it is laying the groundwork for God’s redemption. God’s purpose for the Law and the Prophets was to point to Jesus, the Person of redemption, the only One who could make us right with God.
When you feel overwhelmed by God’s law, look to the fulfillment of the law instead of trying to do better on your own. Look to Jesus, the Author and Perfector of your faith, when you feel convicted about the areas you need to change. The truth is, we cannot measure up, but Jesus has and by His Spirit, we can grow in love and obedience to God each day.
- What is intimidating to you about God’s law?
- How can you look to Jesus for grace and growth in your faith?
- Pray and ask God to help you come to Him with the areas you struggle to measure up and trust His grace and provision.
