Devotion - Tuesday, January 24

In a conversation yesterday afternoon, I discussed the on-going task of applying scripture's instructions to our own lives. The discussion arose out of a question as to whether the Church was becoming less and less convinced of what it is that God expects of us.

At least part of the deliberation is to consider what are God's instructions, and what are the instructions added by those who seek to teach us God's laws.

Phylis Tribble says that Eve is the first Rabbi. "The job of a Rabbi is to build a fence around the Torah." Such fences are built as an outer, protective layer to God's Law. When asked about God's instructions regarding the fruit on the tree in the Garden of Eden, Eve reports that God said, "You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree, nor shall you touch it." There had been no mention of "touching" the fruit. But Rabbi Eve builds a fence. She knows that if she does not touch the fruit she certainly cannot eat the fruit.

In Eve's words we find God's instructions. We also find the additions of a wise teacher of the Law; additions which improve the chances that God's instructions will be followed.

Today's Gospel reading is the story in John 5 of Jesus healing the lame man on the Sabbath. For this, Jesus is condemned by the religious leaders. They have reason to contemn him - Jesus does violate the teachings. Jesus seems to imply that these teachings are in the category of those added (with the best of intentions, but still added) to the central instruction of God.

This is not a blanket endorsement of "anything goes," or "everyone decides for themselves." But it does allow us to come together, as God's people, and re-examine the living out of God's instructions. We need to be careful about speaking for God; we must be intentional in speaking God's Word. When we were children, someone told us what to do and how to do it. As we become adults, we must make some of those decisions for ourselves.