I’m a list-maker.  I make lists and use them.  In fact, I find great comfort in my lists.  I usually make them in my head…

“Do laundry, go shopping, make dinner, call friend, blog…”

If my list is completely checked off at the end of the day, I might think that I’ve done a good job.  I’ll most likely be pretty pleased with myself. 

I also make “religious” lists in my head…

“Don’t gossip, pray more, read the Bible, encourage someone, forgive her/him, blog…”

If my religious list gets checked off, I will probably feel pretty pious.  But finishing my religous list is most certainly NOT an accurate measurement of my piety, my faithfulness, or my relationship with God.  In fact, it makes for tiresome religion.  I get exhausted when I’m trying to earn my righteousness by following my self-imposed list of rules.

Pastor Jim preached on Mark 7:1-23 this morning (the link for the sermon isn’t up yet, but I’ll post it soon).  A brief summation of the Scripture passage:

The Pharisees were picking on some of the disciples because they ate without washing their hands.  This was a huge Jewish taboo.  So the Pharisees say, “Why aren’t your disciples following the rules, Jesus?”  And Jesus says, “You guys are a bunch of hypocrites.  You forsake God’s commandments and replace them with your own.  I’ll tell you what makes you unclean: all the sin that comes out of your hearts.  You guys think that the dirt on the outside is what makes you sinful, but that’s not the point.  What makes you unclean/sinful is the dirt from within (in your sinful hearts) coming out.”

Interesting points for a list-maker, huh?

Pastor Jim said that adding to God’s law is actually a form of lawlessness.  God’s law can’t be improved, so adding to it actually serves to undermine it.  I never thought of it that way before.

I also thought about how I’m totally missing the Gospel when I make a bunch of lists and rules for myself.  For example, what’s more important…

-Reading my Bible every day?  Or repenting of my selfish pride?

-Getting to church on time every Sunday?  Or forgiving the sister who has sinned against me?

-Volunteering in the nursery?  Or allowing the Holy Spirit to convict me of my bitterness?

-Leading Bible study?  Or loving the unlovely?

When I make a list, I’m lying to myself.  I’m fooling myself into thinking that I’m okay when I’m not.  I’m checking off the things that I want to “do” to gain approval and a right standing before God and men, and what really needs work is my heart. 

It’s much more convenient for me to base my success or failure upon a list of behaviors.  It’s fairly easy to refrain from gossip at the next party.  It’s much harder to stop maligning a slanderer in my thoughts.  And it’s next to impossible to begin loving and praying for that slanderer.  This is proof that salvation and sanctification don’t come from us.  It’s all from God. 

He makes my heart new.  My help comes from Him.  I can’t love my enemies without God’s supernatural, miracle-working grace in my heart.  Rule-following will never bring about the change that I need.  I need complete transformation!  Only God could turn a worm into a butterfly. 

Could you imagine a worm trying to become a butterfly by following a list of rules?

Funny picture.  Funny picture, indeed.