At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules. – Psalm 119:62

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Human personalities display a spectrum of responses to rules. Some people will follow instructions to the letter. Others will reject rules as an attempt to control their life. Most will probably comply with directions that make sense to them and ignore what they disagree with. Psychology says that innate character traits incline people toward one side or the other of this spectrum. How does that affect your faith journey? 

The Bible is filled with fascinating character studies. Jesus and His cousin, John the Baptist, are a good picture of how rule-following plays out in life. John took a Nazirite vow intended to set his life apart from worldly concerns and dedicate it to the service of God. Part of that vow included rules on food and alcohol. John was devout and would be viewed as a rule follower. Then there is Jesus, who lived amongst common people, eating and drinking, hanging around with unworthy sorts, and irking the religious leaders of His day by healing a man on the Sabbath. He was considered a rule-breaker. 

Jesus understood the judgment attached to human rules! “For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! Yet wisdom is justified by all her children” (Luke 7:33-35). 

The Spirit of God calls each individual to fulfill a specific role, and it is up to you to respond. You can follow the Spirit’s lead today. He will never ask you to contradict God’s word, but He may suggest you reconsider a rule! Give thanks today for God’s spirit of wisdom and His righteous rules. Ask that those in authority in the United States will listen to and heed His voice.