If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:15-16.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2 ESV.

There is something remarkable that happens when you turn to Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. Understanding unfolds as He guides you into the truth of His love. There is no greater truth than God’s love. That’s why reading our chapter, Ezekiel 23, is so painful. It didn’t have to be that way. That way was a choice. God, through Ezekiel, is painting a picture of what idolatry – unfaithfulness – looks like to God. It isn’t pretty. He likens the northern kingdom, Samaria, and the southern kingdom, Judah, to two sisters who were so unfaithful to God who had saved them and brought them out of slavery, to prostitutes; and the nations they turn to – in their own lust defiled them. It got so bad they would sacrifice their own children to the idols they preferred and then they would go into the Sanctuary to “worship” God, v. 1-39. And those nations they turned to and lusted after? “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to deliver you into the hands of those you hate, to those you turned away from in disgust. They will deal with you in hatred and take away everything you have worked for. They will leave you stark naked, and the shame of your prostitution will be exposed. You lewdness and promiscuity have brought this on you, because you lusted after the nations and defiled yourself with their idols…Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Since you have forgotten Me and turned your back on Me, you must bear the consequences of your lewdness and prostitution.” v. 28-30, 35.

When we choose the law of the Spirit of Life…we choose to let the Holy Spirit be our guide. We choose closeness with God and the truth of His love opens up our whole world to the possibility of renewal that we cannot see without Him guiding us. There is a reason God created all of creation, including us. We can be Spirit led. We can rejoice in the love of God and know hope in Him. Our choice! And instead of being driven by laws that cannot in and of themselves save us, we look to the Spirit of Life in Jesus that does save us. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law nor can it do so. Romans 8:5-7. We see that lack in our chapter and we see it today. We see it in our own life when we try so desperately to keep the law without God’s love helping us to see. Jesus, the Son, came to show us a better way and it is with Him. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. We can write laws to love God and our fellow man but God’s love cannot be legislated. They will never attain what is needed. What is needed is Creator God Himself – and the Holy Spirit leading us to closeness with Him that is our Life. And He is here. Always. His Spirit is alive in those who seek Him. And we begin with His help to follow Him. As the sermon yesterday pointed out so beautifully, we no longer need to live in fear of crossing a line that the law sets up…here and no further. We live by keeping our hearts and minds opened to all Jesus would have us understand. His love for us and our need for Him.