Matthew 12:7-8 If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

As many times as the original passage from Hosea 6:6 is quoted in the rest of the Bible, you’d think the point would get across! Jesus certainly liked it, and his biggest enemies were the legalistic Pharisees. The thing is, legalism is easier than genuine heart-commitment. External rules are easy to formulate, but they don’t change what a person is. Human cultures have struggled with this ever since the Garden of Eden. What makes it complicated is that no rules at all doesn’t cut it either. God knows what is good for us and what will harm us, and His rules are based on that. That’s why John could say that God’s commands are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3) The instruction manual for a complicated piece of machinery might seem difficult, but complaining about it would be illogical at best. At the same time, slavish legalism never helped anyone. That said, we seem to get a kick out of breaking rules! That’s why the Japanese translation of the Hosea quote really clicks with me. Rather than saying “mercy,” it says “genuine love.” It’s no accident that the “1^st and 2^nd” Commandments both deal with love. (Matthew 22:36-40) However, it’s important that the Japanese specifies “genuine.” We are all too prone to substitute eros, self-centered love, for the agape, unconditional love, that God desires.

This is obviously a subject of great importance, and I could go on and on about it. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m living it out the way God desires. I’ve got to operate in humility at all times, recognizing my own weaknesses and depending on God. Any love I generate on my own is inadequate! I have always disliked legalism, but that tends to make me judgmental of legalistic people, which is again a violation of love! Like everyone else, I think, I want people to be merciful with me, but I don’t always extend that mercy to them. I’ve got to operate in humility and repentance, for God’s character and will to be manifested through me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the strong lesson on this subject You’ve been teaching me over the past week. I pray that I and everyone else involved would learn the lesson and give you the obedience You deserve, so that the Body of Christ may be built up for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!