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AFTER THE CUSTOM OF THE LAW Luke 2: 21-27 What comes to mind when you hear, “The custom of the Law?” The Ten Commandments? Leviticus? Circumcision? Matthew 5:17 states, “Jesus came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it.” I can be overwhelmed in my understanding, but in God’s infinite wisdom and mercy, He simply says throughout His Word what we are to be in the habit of doing. That is, “Be ye holy as I AM holy.” Now how can this be? Let’s look in Genesis. In Genesis 17, God tells Abraham what Abraham is to be in the habit of doing. “Every male is to become circumcised.” In return, God would make Abraham fruitful, the father of many nations, and the possessor of land. He promised to be God to Abraham and his offspring. However, if the male child was not circumcised “that soul would be cut off from his people”… and obviously from God. As you know, man broke covenant with God. But in His mercy, God has provided a way to restore this covenant between man and Himself. God has not changed His mind or His law. He requires the same…Be ye Holy as I am Holy. To enter into this covenant with God, you and I must walk in the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16) We have a choice to make. Keep the desires of our own understanding and be cut off from God, or cut off the desires of our own understanding and receive Jesus the Christ and all that He has to give. There is only room for one! One way or the other, God says there will be a cutting off. Mary and Joseph lived after the custom of the law. They did for Jesus, their child, after the custom of the law. Why? Because they loved the Lord God. God said circumcise, and they did so. Their hearts were set in obedience to the Father. God said "in eight days," and so they waited and followed in God’s timing. God said "name Him Jesus," and so they knew God was with them preparing the way. God said "offer two turtle doves" and Mary did so for her purification. Leviticus 12:8 states, “bring two turtle doves, one for the burnt offering and the other for the sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her and she shall be clean.” These offerings represent a coming of your own voluntary will to the One who makes atonement for sin. This is Jesus Christ alone. God says the customs of His law are holy. Jesus speaks gently and lovingly, “Circumcise your heart and allow Me to enter.” What is then engraved on our hearts is holy. I pray, that this day, you and I will come to Jesus with no room in our hearts for our own desires, look in His Holy Word, and allow Him to fill our hearts with His desires…after the custom of the law…in His Holiness. ~ Cheryl Helgert Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King. Let every heart, prepare Him room. Let heaven and nature sing …...
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