Dear Grandchildren:
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and your new year will be filled with much fun.
Great-Grandma Elsa will be celebrating her 97thbirthday on January 10th. She’s doing great and sharp as a tack. Happy birthday, Mom! You’re the greatest! Mom shared with me that on November 20th, her and Grandpa would’ve celebrated their 76th wedding anniversary. She remembers all those dates like it was yesterday.
Last month, we talked about giving those in authority due respect because it’s not only right but it honors God. Right along with that, let’s talk about living by the rules. When rules are imposed, it doesn’t take long before the argument descends into charges of “control” and “lack of trust”.
This question usually comes up, “Is it proper and just to insist on certain rules of behavior or not?” I believe rules are very important in the game of life and without them, life would be a mess. In fact, without rules and conditions, virtually every area of our lives becomes unmanageable.
We have rules and conditions in parenting. Can you imagine a child not living by their parent’s rules? I know it sounds exciting but it would be trouble from day one.
In the workplace, we know someone is setting the rules loud and clear. If you don’t go to work for example, you don’t get paid.
In sports, whether for leisure or for a career, one could argue that it’s the rules themselves that make it possible for any sporting event to exist.
Without rules, no matter how minor, the integrity of the game is called into question. Without rules, the game is impossible.
Can you imagine traffic without rules and laws?
When a couple stands at the altar to pledge themselves to a life of love and commitment, they begin by listing the conditions:
- To have and to hold from this day forward,
- To love and to cherish,
- For better or for worse
- For richer or for poorer,
- In sickness and in health,
- Forsaking all others,
- Until death do us part.
Why are these words important and powerful? Because a marriage without conditions is just two people living together.
Finally, God has a lot to say in the Bible about living by his rules.
- 1st John 5:3 NASB: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.”
- Psalm 119:4 NIV: “You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.”
- Matt. 10:32 NIV: Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.”
- John 3:16 NIV: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
If you remove conditions, you remove the bulk of the teachings of the Bible. In every chapter, you will find instruction, ordinances, principles, rules, limitations, conditions– all required for human beings to live peaceful, joy-filled lives.
But you may say, “Don’t we live under grace now?” Now, grace while forgiving the transgression never removes the rule.
So Grandchildren, living by the rules will not only keep you out of trouble, but it will also give you a clear conscience and a clean heart.
Until next month,
Love,
Grandpa
P.S. Happy New Year!