Routines

Every four weeks I get my hair cut.
When you wear a shorter style, it needs to be maintained frequently.
My daughters have long hair and don’t need to get it cut as often.

I have been going to the same girl for years.
I like her…and trust her!
It matters to know that the person cutting your hair knows what they’re doing.
She does!

Other women must be on the same schedule because we see each other in the salon.
There is comfort in the routine.

I thought about that as I drove away and went grocery shopping.
How much of our lives are routine?

We get up and probably follow the same routines most mornings.
It is inevitable that we will brush our teeth, shower, fix our hair, get dressed.

When we come downstairs, we probably have a morning routine.
We turn on lights if it is still a bit dark, open blinds or curtains, make breakfast.

We might pack lunches, start dinner in the crock pot, empty the dishwasher.
We probably exercise, check email, send a few emails, charge our phone.

Routines.
They are necessary to get things done.

Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there. (Isaiah 28:10)

Some routines can be beneficial and effective.
Some routines are legalistic.
Do and do…with no heart!

That kind of routine displeases God.

We do the right thing…the obligatory thing…and think God is satisfied.
Did we do the right thing with the right heart?
Did we do the obligatory thing just to check it off our spiritual clip board?

God knows the difference between obligation and love.

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6)

Sacrifices and offerings mean nothing, if they are done merely out of obligation.

God does not need our routines.
He desires our hearts…fully devoted to Him.

As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good – except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony. do not defraud, honor your father and mother.”
“Teacher,” he declared, “all these things I have kept since I was a boy.”
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” He said. “Go sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
(Mark 10:17-22)

The rich young man had been “doing” his whole life.
He did good things…right things.
Even his question to Jesus shows us what motivated him.

Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?

What must I DO?
What must I check off my clipboard?
I need to measure my goodness to see if I need more goodness…or if I’m good enough.

Jesus brilliantly pointed out to the man that he had NOT kept all the commandments.
He actually broke the first one.
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
You shall have no other gods before Me. (Exodus 20:1-3)

The rich young man had money as his god.
The rich young man had his routines that he thought were good enough.
He walked away sad, because do and do was all he knew.
It was not enough!

It is not about DO.
It is about DONE!

We can put down the clipboard.
We can stop striving to be good.
We can never be good enough.

We look pretty good when we measure ourselves against someone else.
However, that person is a sinner just like us.
When we measure ourselves against a Perfect and Holy God, we will never measure up.

The Good News is that Jesus, the sinless Son of God, DOES measure up.
He is the only One that can perfectly satisfy His Heavenly Father.
Jesus did not have to do and do…He just did…once and done!

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

Jesus sat down because there was nothing left to do.
He did it all…completely.
His death and resurrection secured our salvation when we trust in Him alone.

We can stop doing.
Jesus did it all.
Completely.
Perfectly.

Just like the rich young man, Jesus looks at us and loves us.
Will we walk away sad because we can’t stop doing and checking our progress?
Drop the clipboard!
Rest at the feet of Jesus in gratitude for all HE has done!