WHEN BAALI BECOMES ISHI
"And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali." (Hosea 2:16)

Devotion 3 of 13

GOD WILL NOT BE SERVED BY OUTWARD COMPULSION--LAW
     External religion is not adequate to bring us to God. The experience of the Israelites is sufficient to bring us to this conclusion. They had commandments--good commandments. The Lord gave them meticulous directions on "how" to live, but it did not make them spiritual. An imposed religion cannot produce spiritual life. Commandments that chaff against the soul cannot change the character. Newness cannot be legislated, even though morality can be so imposed. God has reserved "some better thing for us" (Heb 11:40).
     
This is the Age of Constraint from Within
     Proper reactions to both good and evil are the result of Divine instruction. The wonderful truth is stated a number of ways in Scripture. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:11-12). "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him" (1 John 2:27). "And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them" (Ezek 36:27). "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them" (Heb 10:16).

     It is not possible to read these wonderful texts without seeing the involvement of Deity in the change of human character. It is what God does that makes the difference! Do not allow the power of that perception to pass by you!

     The Spirit speaks precisely on this subject. In Christ things that Law could not accomplish are fulfilled. Hear the word of the Lord. "For it is we who ARE the circumcision, we who WORSHIP by the Spirit of God, who GLORY in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh" (Phil 3:3, NIV).  "Those who belong to Christ Jesus HAVE crucified the sinful nature with its passions and
desires" (Gal 5:24, NIV).  "We know that we HAVE passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death" (1 John 3:14, NIV). These texts serve to confirm the point.

     All of the things affirmed in these passages are epochal in nature. We, i.e., those in Christ, "worship by the Spirit of God." In Christ, we are not commanded to worship, we DO worship! This is not our goal, it is our experience! Worship is as natural to believers as breathing is to those in the
body. Note that we also "glory in Christ Jesus." We do not strive to do this, we actually do it. He is our focus, and He is our joy. That is the way it is, not the way it ought to be! 

     When it comes to "the flesh," or "sinful nature," we simply put no confidence in it--that is the effectiveness of living by faith. It is not that we SHOULD NOT put confidence in the flesh, but do anyway. Those who walk in the Spirit DO NOT put confidence in the flesh. If you want their attention and support, you will have to get OUT of the flesh and into the Spirit, out of nature and into grace! 

     Those who belong to Christ subordinate their lower nature. They do not pamper it, vaunt it, or obey it--they "have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." Those persistently living in the flesh either need to be born again or restored to the Lord. In their carnal state, they do not belong to Christ. The ministry of our Lord is not for those in the flesh, but for those in
the Spirit. That simply is the way it is. That is why those living "after the flesh" are separated from God, and cannot please Him  (Rom 8:5-13). 

     It is true that "we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers" (1 John 3:16, NIV). However, those in the Son DO love the brethren. They may be admonished to love them "fervently," and have "fervent charity among themselves," but it is taken for granted that they DO love one another. From the beginning we have heard that "we should love one another" (1 John 3:11), but when we came into Christ it began to happen. If loving the brothers of Jesus is a sign that we have passed from death unto life, then not loving them is a sign that we have not passed from death to life.

     Time will not allow us to develop this aspect of our subject any further. As you can see, the matters that caused the greatest difficulty for those under the Law have been accomplished in Christ Jesus.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I remember when your commands were grievous, and contrary to me--when Your burden was heavy. How I thank and praise You for the transformation that has taken place in me through the Son. Now your commands are not grievous, and Your law is not contrary. I have found Jesus' yoke to be easy, and His burden light. In Jesus name, receive my praise for this change.

-- TOMORROW: INSIGHT, NOT FEAR --