The Love in the LawMuskoka Lakes Ministry of Knox, Port Carling & Zion, Torrance
Sunday Sept 20, 2020
Sermon Series: The Ministry of Jesus
Message: The Love in the Law
Reverend Glynis Faith (705-765-3797) (muskokalakesministry@gmail.com)
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Announcements
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Lectio Divina Thursday evenings at 8pm via Zoom. If you would like to take part contact Rev. Faith to receive a Zoom invitation.
If you would like a ‘socially distant’ visit from the minister, please call or email to set up a day and time.
DONATIONS TO KNOX, PORT CARLING
Mail cheques to Knox Presbyterian Church Box 283, Port Carling, ON, P0B 1J0
E-Transfers to KnoxChurchPC@gmail.com No security question required
Pick up ~ Please call the office (705) 765-3797 to arrange pick up

DONATIONS TO ZION, TORRANCE
Mail cheques to Zion Presbyterian Church 1046 Torrance Rd, Torrance, ON, P0C 1M0
E-Transfers to zionchurchpc@gmail.com No security question required
Pick up ~ Please call the office (705) 765 3797 to arrange pick up
Thank you for your continued support!
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Scripture
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Exodus 24:12-13
12 The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”
13 Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God.

Matthew 5:17-20 The Fulfillment of the Law
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
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Message
“The Love in the Law”
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What things come to mind when you think of the ministry of Jesus? Love? – grace? – sacrifice? – humility? – healing? – compassion? – friend? Saviour? mercy? teacher? These images of Jesus are all correct, He certainly is all of these things.
When you think of Christ’s ministry do you also think about Rules?, Laws?, Rebuke?, Commands? Or Authority? It is clear from Jesus’ words that there were those who embraced His love and grace, expecting that His compassionate nature negated the Laws. Jesus, however, says ‘no, I have not abolished the Laws of old, but have come to teach you how to live them.’
It is a hard thing to wrap our head around sometimes, but laws are meant for the greater good of all. We don’t always like them – especially if a rule gets in the way of what we want – but in the long run, living by the rules gives harmony to the whole.
As I was considering how love was expressed in the Law, my walks with Skippy came to mind. You may remember I spoke of my four-legged friend a few weeks ago.
Training has been a fun task. His potty training went well, which I am grateful for. Skippy has learned lots of tricks – he can sit – shake a paw – lie down – and, believe it or not, I have taught him to pray. That’s right, ministers don’t teach their dog’s to beg, they teach them to pray!
Skippy loves to play fetch but is not keen to give the ball back unless I have a reward to swap for it. Recently, I have taken on the fun task of getting Skippy to jump up on the large rocks at Hannah Park, and he now has a pattern of which ones to jump up and down from and which ones he can leap from one rock to the other.
Walking, on the other hand, is a struggle most days. It has improved, but there are times when I have to reach down to pick him up and carry him until he calms down, or I am exhausted, whichever comes first. (usually my exhaustion)
Part of the struggle stems from the fact that Skippy is a beagle and his instinct is to sniff things out and chase them. Skippy’s nose easily leads him astray. Another factor is Skippy is still young and wants to play with dogs, squirrels, cats, frogs, small children, ducks, acorns and pinecones falling from trees, and even leaves blowing in the wind.
Like the big bad meanie that I am, I don’t let him run out onto the road or jump up on people; although he can’t seem to help himself when he sees Scott Murley. When we go out walking I expect he and I should walk together in harmony, because yanking my shoulder out of its socket is not a comfortable way to walk.
I have recently started using a halti, which looks similar to a lightweight muzzle. A halti could be compared to a harness on a horse. Instead of the dog pulling against their collar and chocking themselves, you lead them by steering them in the direction you are walking.
The halti works well, but dogs don’t like them. Skippy, along with every other dog we meet wearing one, tries to rub the halti off their nose by dragging their face across the ground.
I don’t like using the halti. I would like both of us to enjoy the walk. I show Skippy that I have it with me when we leave for our walk and if he starts pulling, running and getting himself tied up around my legs I remind him that I have it, but if he keeps pulling or trying to run after other dogs I have to put it on him.
It is hard to understand how he can pull and pull, choking himself in the struggles, but isn’t that what we do when we fight against the Law. It is often not discipline that chokes us and gets us all tangled up, it is our fight against our lead. And as Skippy has shown me, when he has caught me off guard and knocked me down, it isn’t just ourselves that pay the price. Rules and Law are meant to help us live in harmony, not choke us, tangle us up or knock us down.
As I was considering the teaching ministry of Jesus, I was mindful that His ministry was a continuation of the prophets, a ministry tied into the Laws of Moses. From our Old Testament reading today we read that God called Moses to come up onto the mountain and receive the Law and the commandment.
Many of us have an image in our minds of God’s voice thundering through the thick clouds as Charltan Heston (playing Moses) carried down the massive stone tablets. It is a medieval image of a demanding God, which is often how the commandments, or Laws are viewed – demanding. (do this, don’t do that)
The Laws are not designed to be demanding or to take all the fun out of life, they are actually designed to maintain good relationships. The first four commandments deal with our relationship with God and the last 6 address our relationships with one another.
God’s commandments are not designed to restrict us, but to help us live in joyful harmony with God and with one another.
Think about this for a second: what would our world be like if everyone honoured the Ten Commandments? Glory and praise would be given to the Creator, which would bring blessings upon humanity. We would rest regularly and parents would be respected. the evening news would not be necessary because there would be no murders, no robberies, no scandalous relationships, no fake news or jealous revenge stories to report.
That is the intent of the Law – to bless us and free us from the things that harm us. In his epistle, the apostle James proposes that the Law brings freedom.
That is what I keep trying to teach Skippy. When he follows the rules we have a great time walking, talking and playing on the big Muskoka rocks. When he chooses to pull and run and disobey the halti restricts the joy of our walk. We still walk, but it is far less enjoyable. Freedom comes through adherence to the Law.
This is what Jesus taught – saying ‘I did not come to abolish the Laws, but to fulfil them.’ Christ came to restore the relationship between God and humanity, and a big part of that restoration comes through our relationships with one another.
It is important to remember that Jesus taught compassion, but He also taught repentance of sin. Jesus taught us to mind our own business – take the plank out of your own eye instead of pointing at the splinter in someone else’s, but he also reminded people to ‘go and sin no more.’ - - so when you get the plank out of your left eye, don’t go sticking one in the right eye!
The life and teachings of Jesus found in the Gospels is our roadmap to living according to God’s will. (I have been encouraging you to open your Bibles and read through one of the Gospels – if you havn’t done so yet – I continue to encourage you to do so)
When you read the Gospel you will see that Jesus shows us how to fulfill the first four commandments by honouring God and living our lives to reflect His light. He also shows us how to live out the last six by modeling how we are to treat one another.
By embracing God’s commands, we develop a closer relationship with God, and when we live out His laws as Jesus taught us, we shine God’s love into our own lives and on the world around us.
This is the ministry we are called to: to embrace God’s commands and live the Love in the Law.
God gave the Laws through Moses for our instruction, so we could walk with our Creator in harmony. If you are feeling restricted by God’s Laws, perhaps it is time to stop pulling away from God and let Him guide you.

Please bow your heads and pray with me.
Lord we have a habit of wondering off in our own direction, sometimes even pulling against the path You are leading us on. It is often not until we have tangled ourselves up and are feeling helpless that we turn back to You and seek Your will.
Your Laws are meant to bring us freedom and peace through our relationship with You and with each other. Help us to continue the ministry Jesus began by living the love in the Law. Bless us as we do. This we pray in the of Jesus. AMEN