Rules - why I need them

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8

I am an instruction book kind of gal. My parents bought me an iron for my birthday. Yeah, I know, what kind of gift is an iron, but I need it and for whatever reason I have never bought one for myself. I know how to use an iron, but it has a button that I am not sure how/when to use it. So I mentioned I could just read the instruction manual. Mom then responded casually that there wasn't one. I had a mini panic attack.

I like rules. I like to know what is right and what is wrong. I like clear boundaries. I more confident, secure, free when I know the rules and boundaries. I sometimes wish I lived during a time when there were certain rules for social interactions. Though at times they feel restrictive, there is also comfort in knowing how to act, speak, etc. in an unfamiliar situation.

Due to my like for rules I must be careful in my Christian walk not to become legalistic. I have to avoid the attitude of do this and not that. God cares about the attitude, not so much the action. I must remember that the things I do are in an effort to please Him, but that in all things God's greatest desire is to have a close, intimate relationship with me. Before sin was introduced in man, God walked and talked personally with man (Genesis 3:8-9). Therefore, through my desire to please God I am to remember it is not the action, but the relationship that matters. I should not follow the law out of fear of punishment, but out of desire to connect with God.

Because of Christ I am no longer under the law, but it does not mean I can completely ignore the law. The law, or rules, that is set out in the Bible is to guide me and instruct me in obedience and service to God. I freely give myself to these teachings. Through obedience and service to God I may have a closer, more intimate relationship with Him.

I have mentioned before all the rules, commands, law - whatever you want to call it - can be summed up into 2 commands: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul and Love your neighbor as yourself. However, for those who, like me, want/need a little more structure, there are more specific rules found throughout the Bible. I have compiled a list of commands that are to govern my actions and speech, which I will post under a separate posting so that when I want to look back on them I do not have to read through completely why I need the rules.