Insolomonsporch's Blog

“Under-the-Influence”

Day Four/17Feb2011

Standing before God as a Legalist

“And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath? That they might accuse him.” Darby Mt 12:10

The people standing before the Lord were not wondering IF He could heal the man with the withered hand.  That was not their focus.  They were inquiring as to its legality – because that was what they were all about… the law.  Their desire was to find error in Him, and accuse Him.

They saw Him.  They stood before Him.  But they didn’t really see Him – or they would have never have pursued that tact.  They had a veil over their eyes – a veil called the law which had been upon they eyes of the Jews since the law was given by Moses.

They stood before the Creator of the Universe, and yet missed Him!  What was important was finding a way to leverage control.  They didn’t question His ability to heal!  They didn’t question the truth that He could heal – it wasn’t important.

It makes you wonder – what might my veil be when I come before the Lord?  What am I so totally enamored with? Do I really see Him?  If I do I will not be preoccupied with validating my agenda.  I will become preoccupied with His.

Matthew 6:22-23 talks about our eye as the lamp of the body, and that if our eye is sound our entire body will be filled with light – but if it is not sound (if it is evil) then we will be filled with darkness.  When we stand before the Lord we must be aware that there can be darkness within us – that opposes God. If that darkness is legalism – it will function as a veil that obscures truth.

Dealing with these issues is still a very active need.  2Cor 3:15 explains that whenever the law is read a veil lies upon the person’s mind and heart, but when they turn in repentance to the Lord (when they see the error of their thinking and turn from it), the veil is stripped away.

We must be cleansed of all legalism and a heart that would accuse or pursue leverage for control.  In a like vein, Romans 4: 14 reveals that if we adhere to the law then faith becomes futile and God’s promises are made void.

On what basis do you stand before the Lord your Maker?  Is it because of legal standing, or because grace has made a way for you?  Be careful, be-loved.