Series: Sinners
Message: Fruit
Preacher: Japhet De Oliveira
Reflection: Mark Witas
Live Wonder: Zan Long
Live Adventure: Zan Long
Live Purpose: Kyle Smith
Editor: Becky De Oliveira
Refresh: Begin with prayer. Ask for the Holy Spirit to open your heart to new understanding and for God’s character to be revealed.
Read: Romans 7:1-12 in The Message (MSG). Note 1–3 insights or questions.
Reflect: “For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet’” (Romans 7:7b).
I went to seminary at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Just north of Berrien Springs is the town of St. Joseph which boasts, among other things, the world headquarters of the Whirlpool Corporation. This is where my wife worked while I was in classes deciphering Biblical Greek and Hebrew.
One morning, my wife discovered that her car wouldn’t start, so I needed to drive her up to work. It was early, and traffic was heavy up Highway 31 to St. Joseph. At one point, a single car in front of a long line of traffic needed to turn left. There was only one lane in each direction, and the oncoming traffic was thick, so many drivers, including me, decided to pass on the paved shoulder to the right of the car with its left turn signal on.
About a mile up the road, I noticed a police cruiser fast approaching. I pulled over to allow him to pass so he could catch whatever lawbreaker he was chasing. He didn’t pass. He pulled in behind me and approached my window.
“Hello, sir. License and registration, please.”
As I handed him my documents, I asked, “Officer, what did I do wrong?”
I was completely clueless. I wasn’t speeding. My tail lights and brake lights all worked. His response flabbergasted me. “You passed a stopped vehicle on the right hand side, crossing the solid white line. That’s against the law. I’m going to have to cite you.”
And he did. I had to pay for breaking a law that I didn’t even know was a law. I now know the law. Ever since then, I sit behind a vehicle waiting to turn and wait while everybody else passes on the right. I didn’t know the law until it was pointed out to me.
The Sinai law was given to a group of people who really needed managing. They needed civil, dietary, health, and religious laws so they could successfully live together and be healthy and happy. Until the law was given, many of the Israelites hadn’t thought to do much of what the law prescribed.
The law was a way to demonstrate how to act in cooperation with God as a chosen people. The law was given to point out good behavior and discourage bad behavior. The law can be summed up as “love for God and man.” It can just as easily become the minutia of the written code that governed the Israelites in the wilderness and beyond.
Recalibrate: If you are unaware of a law, should you be punished for breaking it?
Respond: Ask God to increase your love and devotion toward Him and your fellow man, thus keeping the law as it was intended.
Research: Just for fun, here are some weird laws on the books that few people tend to know about.
Remember: “Still, the Law and its commands are holy and correct and good” (Romans 7:12, CEV).
Mark Witas is the lead pastor at Pacific Union College Church in Angwin, CA. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Mark has served as a youth pastor, Bible teacher, college and academy chaplain, and lead pastor in the United States and Canada for the last 33 years. He has also authored four books: Born Chosen, Live Out Loud, Portals, and Just Jesus.
Play a game of statues with your little one. If they are too small to dance on their own, hold them and dance together. Put some music on, and, when the music stops, freeze into a statue. Stop and restart the music as often as you like. The fun is in the playing and cheering each other on when we can’t freeze because we are giggling too much!
Play your favorite game. Think about the rules of this game. Does knowing the rules make you a good player? How do the rules help you play the game? What would the game be like if you ignored the rules and did your own thing?
Iowa is a really frustrating state to drive through because the speed limit is basically always 55 mph on the freeway. Yet here is the kicker: there is no way to figure this out unless you “just know.” They don’t post the speed limit anywhere! When I was driving through the state a few years ago, I suddenly saw flashing lights behind me. The officer who pulled me over asked if I knew how fast I was going. I said, “70 miles per hour, sir.” He look at me like I was crazy and said, “Don’t you realize the speed limit is 55?” I replied, “Honestly sir, I didn’t know. I’m from Missouri and the limit there is 65.” I didn’t argue the point with him. I told him the truth and apologized for speeding. Something great happened; he walked back to his car completely cool. He had a smile on his face, and said he would let me slide this time. We shook hands and he said, “Have a great trip!” And off I went. This whole scenario reminds me of the Gospel. We are sinners, law breakers, but if we come to Jesus and own up to our wrongs, even when we don’t feel wrong, He forgives us. No questions asked. How have you broken the law of Christ today? Have you gone to Jesus with it yet? Doesn’t it feel good to know that the only thing you need to know is that Jesus wants to save you?