Living life between the lines …

People don’t like rules because they don’t like the idea of obedience.

Even in the church, we hear a great deal of derision for rules or standards, often from popular pastors, who tend to overlook that Jesus Himself spoke commands He really does expect for us to obey, not the least of which are His teachings such as John 13:34 …

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

Perhaps those who chafe so much at the very idea of rules or commands didn’t learn a very simple lesson as a child:

Coloring between the lines helps us create beauty, even a work of art, instead of discordant scribble.

Our Creator hasn’t given us a holy standard or specific commands to rob us of free will, but to know how to be more like Him!

“So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, ‘You must be holy because I am holy,'” 1 Peter 1:14-16.

Jesus made the issue of our “coloring between the lines” — our obedience to Him — a very simple issue: “If you love me, obey my commandments,” John 14:15.

So, do you love Him? Or are you scribbling all over your life, however you want?

Scotty