The Symptoms

# 17 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 1Ti 1:9,10 “knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, The Law is meant for those who have hardened their hearts to the “do's and don'ts of God's Word. In fact a close examination of the offenders here shows those who have a disregard for both Tables of the Law. In the first grouping we see attitudes and actions contrary to loving God, (lawless, insubordinate, ungodly, sinners, unholy, and profane.) In the second grouping we see attitudes and actions contrary to loving our neighbor. (murderers, fornicators, sodomites, kidnappers, liars, and perjurers!) These are all symptoms of those who need a dose of the Law to make them aware of their sickness and to prepare them to receive the gospel cure. Let's spend a little time in the next couple of days in God's medical school as we examine these different maladies in greater detail. First of all, the lawless. The lawless are those who are wickedly self-assertive. They simple believe that they are their own god and can make up their own rules. This was the temptation that led to the sin of Adam and Eve as we read in Ge 3:5 "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." When YOU know good and evil, YOU are the one making the rules and not someone else! Next are the “insubordinate.” Insubordination in the military is a very serious charge. If an enlisted person, assaults, disobeys, or is disrespectful to a superior, they are liable to be charged with insubordination. Likewise, the insubordinate toward God have no interest in obeying His orders, they lack a fear or reverence toward God, and even go so far as assaulting His character. God's prescriptive medicine for such comes from the very first commandment: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” And we should never grow weary of proclaiming it, praying that it will strike the heart of the sinner and cause them to “fear the Lord, which is the beginning of understanding. (Prov 9:10)