"The Weight of Rules" | April 6, 2025 | Ps Joel Lowery

In a world that often measures our worth by our accomplishments, appearance, or adherence to rules, it's easy to lose sight of our true value. But what if there was a different way to understand our worth - one that doesn't depend on our performance or how well we follow the rules?

This revolutionary perspective is at the heart of God's amazing grace. It's a concept that turns our typical understanding of value on its head and invites us into a transformative relationship with our Creator.

The Pawn Stars Principle

Consider the popular TV show "Pawn Stars." The core principle of the show is simple: an item's value is determined by what someone is willing to pay for it. This same principle applies to our spiritual lives. Our true value isn't found in how well we follow rules or how "good" we are - it's found in what God was willing to pay for us.

And what did God pay? The ultimate price - His own Son, Jesus Christ. This demonstrates that in God's eyes, we have infinite value, regardless of our performance or adherence to rules.

The Problem with Rules

While rules can serve a purpose, relying solely on them for our sense of worth and relationship with God is problematic for several reasons:

1. Rules are external, not internal: They address behavior but don't change the heart.
2. Rules are powerless: They tell us what to do but don't help us accomplish it.
3. Rules point us towards ourselves: Our focus becomes our own performance rather than God.
4. Rules emphasize the negative: They often highlight where we fall short rather than celebrating progress.

The pursuit of holiness without grace inevitably leads to legalism - a joyless, burdensome faith that misses the heart of God.

The Power of Grace

In contrast to rules, grace works from the inside out. It doesn't just modify behavior; it transforms desires. As the apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9:

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."

Grace is God's unmerited favor, His kindness towards us that we don't deserve. It's not about what we do, but about who God is and what He has done for us through Jesus Christ.

The Woman Caught in Adultery

Perhaps no story better illustrates the power of grace than Jesus' encounter with the woman caught in adultery in John 8. According to the religious laws of the time, this woman had no value and deserved death. But Jesus saw her differently.

When challenged to condemn her, Jesus instead turned the tables on her accusers, saying, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." One by one, her accusers left, "beginning with the oldest."

Then, in a moment of profound grace, Jesus looked at the woman and said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin."

This wasn't a grudging pardon with a stern warning. It was an invitation to a new life - one where she could find her value not in the approval of others or in following rules, but in the love and grace of God.

Living in Grace

Embracing God's grace doesn't mean we abandon all standards or live however we want. Rather, it means we find our value and motivation in God's love for us, not in our performance. As we experience His grace, our hearts are transformed, and we naturally begin to desire the things God desires.

This way of living can be messy. It's not always as clear-cut as following a set of rules. But it's in this messy space that we often encounter Jesus most profoundly.

Living in grace means:

1. Recognizing our infinite value in God's eyes, regardless of our performance
2. Finding our identity in Christ, not in how well we follow rules
3. Extending grace to others, knowing we all fall short
4. Allowing God's love to transform our hearts and desires from the inside out

The Invitation

Whether you've never considered faith before, or you've been following Jesus for years but find yourself stuck in a rules-based mindset, God's grace is available to you today. It's not free - it cost Jesus everything. But it's freely offered to all who will receive it.

Accepting this grace isn't about trying harder to be good. It's about saying yes to a relationship with the God who values you infinitely, just as you are. It's about allowing His love to transform you from the inside out.

As you reflect on God's amazing grace, consider:

- Where do you find your value? In your performance, or in God's love for you?
- Are you living by rules, or by grace?
- How might embracing God's grace change the way you view yourself and others?

Remember, Christianity isn't about paying God back for what He's done for us. It's about receiving His grace and allowing it to transform every aspect of our lives. In doing so, we discover a freedom and joy that no amount of rule-following could ever produce.

May we all learn to live in the liberating power of God's amazing grace, finding our true value not in what we do, but in who God says we are.