It's Not About Compliance

Scripture:
How can you say, “We are wise,
    for we have the law of the Lord,”
when actually the lying pen of the scribes
    has handled it falsely?
Jeremiah 8:8

Observation: As God continues his declarations against the Jews, he includes this fact ... they cannot even claim any compliance with the Law, because they have in fact lost the correct understanding of the Law.

This is in the context of everything they are doing ... child sacrifice, baal worship, idol worship, divination, to name some. So the question is, under what context can the Jews do these things AND claim they also obey the Law, while God tells them they don't even understand the Law?

The answer seems to be twofold. First, they have 'added' to the Law. They may do ritual sacrifice, rest on the Sabbath, etc., but they also are doing these other acts, which is absolutely wrong. Second, they comply with the Law only as prescribed by their teachers, and not based on the intent of the Law ... love, honor, worship, and relationship with the Lord. As God says, he seeks relationship, not sacrifice. The Law is to develop a framework for worship, adoration, love, and communication ... not compliance. The Jewish scribes/teachers now teach compliance, not the heart.

Application: God is always after my heart, not my compliance. He wants my love, communication, adoration, and worship, not my compliance with church attendance, works, or even daily devotions.

Today, God now has my full attention. I see the better way in life through devotion of my mind and heart to the Lord, and not just doing work because he tells us to. The service comes to be certain, but I see the growth that comes from improved thoughts, a changed heart, and meditation on the Lord. I will never be the same from this experience, and I will never go back. Yes, I will struggle ... I am a flawed human ... but I will continue the turning of my heart to the Lord as the ongoing goal of my life.

Prayer: Lord, you see me, and you know my thoughts. Please forgive me when my mind and heart fail. I will never be perfect, and you know this. However, you also see my striving, and you see the change in my heart. It may be slower than it should have been, but growth continues. Again, please have patience and mercy, love and compassion, upon me, as I grow and mature as your disciple. I do love you, my Lord and my God. Amen.