The Glory of Legalism

(Proverbs 28:9 KJV)  He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

I continue to maintain that legalism gets a bad rap.  Sure, I know that there are people who get so hung up in the letter of the law that they won’t cook on Sunday.  That in itself is not the problem with legalism.  It becomes hypocritical and sinful when they use that as an excuse to go out to lunch. 

Usually people who yell, “Legalist!” are engaged in sinful behavior and want to distract you so you will not bring them to accountability.  This makes it clear that not listening to the law makes you an “abomination” (8441).  It doesn’t get much worse than that.

At the same time we are expected to look at the law through eyes that have been corrected by the Holy Spirit and a heart that has had the surgery of grace.  It means that we listen to the law so we can hear the desire of our savior, not to hear the judgment of men.

So?  Read and listen.  Ask the Holy Spirit to use the law to move you toward maturity.  Attitude makes a difference.