Rules or Relationship?

1 Timothy 1:8–11 (ESV)
8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.
 
Ok, you might be thinking to yourself, this is a strange passage for a devotional.  You’re right, but we must remember what Paul wrote to Timothy just prior to this passage regarding those who are making assertions about the law without having any knowledge.  So, it’s an interesting passage, and to be candid, I had to spend some time thinking about this and do a little digging in a commentary or two. 
 
In verse 8, Paul starts off by talking about the law.   He says that the law is good and that the law is not for those who are just, but for the lawless.  Paul goes on to list a whole host of people who are in danger. 
 
In verses 9-10, Paul is listing where the dangers lie if a person pursues behavior that is contrary to the law; effectively saying that these are the dangerous places and outcomes. 
Actually, this list is a reflection of the Ten Commandments, and it points to the extremely dangerous outcomes of going the wrong way.  Basically, what Paul is saying is that the law is fine if you want to know what dangers to avoid and adds that the Gospel is also opposed to these extremely dangerous outcomes. 
However, there is a distinct difference between the law and the Gospel.
 
The law often points to behaviors to avoid.  The Gospel does something more.  The Gospel reveals God’s love, His heart, His passion, and His glory (something that happens to Moses in Exodus 32-34).
 
So, as we consider the whole of verses 3-11, Paul tells Timothy that he has been entrusted with this message, and his desire, which he wants Timothy to imitate, is to reveal the glory of the Lord in and through Jesus Christ.  Paul doesn’t want Timothy or the believers to focus on the danger; instead, Paul wants them to focus on the life-giving Gospel, where the glory of God is revealed in His Son, Jesus.
 
Our faith in Jesus isn’t about a list of regulations: what to do, what not to do.  The focus of our faith, in fact, the Gospel itself, is about a relationship with Jesus in which we are changed and transformed by the love and grace of God through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus.
The encouragement that we get from Paul in this passage is to explore the Gospel and to come to know, love, and serve Jesus more and more as we grow in our relationship with Him.
 
I fully believe that if we pursue maturity in our relationship with Jesus, those other “things” (what to do or not do, and a whole host of other concerns in our lives) will find their right place as we draw closer to Him.  Those things will find their right place in our lives because we will always have Jesus at the center of our hearts and minds.
 
In all of this, I’m challenged to consider how I can become more aware of and focused on the presence of Jesus and work to pay attention to Him constantly (I suspect that it’s an area of growth for all of us).  I encourage you to do all that you can to be aware of His presence with you at work, in your home, and in every relationship and interaction.  Continually explore your relationship with Jesus every day in silence and solitude, and if you dare, a day of Sabbath rest each week: Sabbath, Silence, and Solitude, easy to say, a challenge to live.
 
God bless you, and know that you are prayed for constantly!
Scott