New, In-Your-Heart, Covenant (Only 2 Rules to Follow)

I have heard that the closer you get to God, the more you recognize the sin in yourself and in the world. I believe that is true. The more I learn about Jesus and God's Word, the more I realize I cannot measure up. The more I am in the world going about my day-to-day life, my heightened awareness of intolerance, injustice and down-right disregard for others is apparent. Jesus always had the right answers to make people refocus their thinking. I often have the wrong answer because I act out of emotion. Jesus tried with each situation to help unbelievers and believers alike, transition into the new covenant that He established at his death and resurrection.

The new covenant was of the Spirit, indwelling in each of us. If you pay close attention to the stories in the old testament, the Spirit was ON a person, not IN at that point. The Spirit only came into a person's heart after receiving the Spirit at Pentecost. 2 Corinthians 3:3 refers to the Spirit being written on the tablets of our hearts, not on tablets of stone. In verse 6, Paul says God made them ministers of a new covenant-- not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Hebrews 8:6 says this about the new covenant: "The ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. (7) For if there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, no place would have been sought for another." God continues to say he found fault with the people. Why? They could not follow the over 600 rules the Law established. So, He says he will establish a new covenant. Verse 10, "I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts....I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." In the first covenant, sacrifices were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. Hebrews 9 says the Law was "a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings--external regulations applying until the time of the new order." Food, drink and ceremonial rituals have no spiritual significance for getting the believer closer to God.

So, what do we do with this new, in-your-heart, covenant? It is heart-based. When you receive the Holy Spirit through baptism, He will guide you. Be in-tune with the Spirit. Inquire of the Spirit. It is always there to guide, direct and redirect if possible. It is like a map, a guide book or an atlas for our day. We choose to use these guides or follow our misguided emotions and overactive feelings.

In the old testament, there were over 600 rules written. In the new testament, I believe there are only two 'rules' that all the other rules hinge on: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind AND love your neighbor as yourself. Everything we do, and I mean everything, can be put into these two categories. Gossip, the latter. Too much technology: the former. On and on!

So, ask yourself, do you follow rules because they are part of the 613 written rules? Or, do you follow  the new covenant, Spirit rules because they are on your heart and your heart is telling you not to gossip or murder or judge? I think we will untimely be following more than 613 rules if we are following the Spirit. Each situation is different. But, where is your heart? In the written rules or in the Holy Spirit that is Jesus' Spirit indwelling in us that makes us white as snow?

Do all in the name of the Lord. Dedicate all you do to the Lord. Work as you were working for the Lord.