has encountered challenges to follow God’s truth, in the face of government officials, and even their own countrymen, turning them in for “Judaizing” on the Sabbath and Holy Days. As the scripture reminds us, 2 Tim 3:5; People have a form of godliness but when it comes down to it, they deny the power of it. Partic - ularly, if their own freedoms or societal conditions are threatened. Scripture warns against ignoring God’s law. In 1 Sam - uel 2 we read the sobering example of Hophni and Phinehas, sons of Eli (the high priest). The two sons took more than their allotted portion from sacrifices, manipulated offerings, and despised God’s commands. The scripture states in 1 Sam. 2:17 that: the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD for men abhorred the offering of the LORD What about God’s Church? Do we sometimes believe we can skirt God’s law when it seems to benefit us or make life easier? Many people in the world think that a sin, or a lie, would be ok if it’s small, or for the greater good. And yet, Christians should know that it is God that sets the boundaries of right from wrong. God’s people must guard against thinking we can bend His law for conve- nience. Even small compromises are counted as rebel- lion against God. This kind or pervasive attitude can creep into the Church. Examples in the Bible warn of the danger of defying God. Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and 250 leaders
attempted to challenge Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16). They charged that Moses and Aaron took too much authority to themselves. They failed to recognize that Moses and Aaron were God’s appointed. It did not end well for them. We need to be careful of this attitude. There was no fear of God. That was the problem! As Hebrews 13:17 reminds us: Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. Maintain Perspective God’s law is both physical and spiritual. Christ empha- sized in Matthew 5 that sin begins in the heart—anger becomes murder, lust becomes adultery. In James 1:14- 15 record: “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has con- ceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full- grown, brings forth death.” Thoughts and intentions matter as much as actions. Rebellion against God is often deliberate and planned, and sin carries a ripple effect. Unlike the animals in An - imal Farm, we cannot afford to forget God’s law. His laws provide us with boundaries to achieve a life of prosperity, safety and health! Psalm 19 underscores the importance of God’s testimonies, laws and statutes in verses 7-11 it states:
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