"Too Many Rules"

While out in Colorado camping, we had our granddaughter with us. She is six now which is very hard to believe. While leaving the confines of our camper, she was running around the area barefooted. I sat her down and told her she had to have shoes on running around outside. She put on her flip-flops. While around the campfire, I told her she had to wear her 'normal' shoes because of the coals in the fire and the popping sparks. Sitting by the fire, she was cold so I asked her to get her jacket on so she wouldn't be so cold. Then came the words to her grandma, "Rules, why are there so many rules?"

It seems we as people don't like rules! When we use the phrase 'commandment from the Lord' it makes people draw back. We just don't like commandments. It reveals the deeper struggles we have. We want to do our own thing, in our own way and following our own desires. The preacher is told to preach the word because people will turn their ears from the truth and find teachers to teach what they desire (II Tim. 4:1-4). People want it their way. Jude urges us to contend for the faith because without following the teaching people will follow their own desires. That's what grumblers, fault finders do! They follow their own lusts. They speak out of arrogance and flatter people to try to gain an advantage. We need to keep ourselves in the love of God. God's love leads us into His life and righteousness. That keeps us under His 'rules' which is for our spiritual and eternal well being.

As I sat my granddaughter down, I explained to her that without rules people would hurt themselves and rules are to keep us safe and on the right track. A smile came across her face, her blue eyes looking into mine and her hug came with the words, "Thank you grandpa!"