Bible Reading: Philippians 3:1-16
Key Verse: Verse 16 - “Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.”
Key Words: walk by the same rule
We have all heard the slogan “no rules, just rights” and “have it your way.” This seems to be the philosophy of our day and it’s catching on rapidly. I heard a pastor of a Pentecostal church say, “Baptists are laden down with rules. If you are sick of rules, come on over and join us, we don’t care about rules, we just care about worship.” That statement is not only unwise, it is unbiblical.
The word rule in the Bible comes from the Hebrew word mashal. It means to control or to umpire. Can you imagine a sporting event such as football, basketball, or baseball with no rules? It would be total anarchy. Can you imagine driving to work with no rules to guide us on the highway? (If you think it is pleasant, visit Brazil. Hundreds of people die daily because of no highway rules.)
The Bible gives us all kinds of rules in order that our worship of God may be organized and glorifying to God (see I Corinthians 14:40). Let me share some of those rules with you.
- The rule of giving (I Corinthians 16:2).
- The rule for spiritually feeding the flock (I Peter 5:2-7).
- The rule of church discipline (Matthew 18:15-20).
- The rule of dress (I Timothy 2:9).
- The rule of faithfulness (I Corinthians 4:2 and Hebrews 10:25).
- The rule for music (Colossians 3:16).
- The rule for unity (Ephesians 4:3).
- The rule for right relationships (Titus 3:1-2).
- The rule for deaconship (I Timothy 3:8-13).
- The rule for pastors (I Timothy 3:1-7).
What to do:
✞ Understand that rules don’t make us rebellious; they simply reveal the rebellion already in the heart.
✞ If you have a problem with rules, change your heart.
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