Since most of the readers or followers of this blog know me, most of you know that I recently retired from a leadership position in education. In that role, there was an expected dress code. Many days I needed to wear a suit; professional dress was always expected where I worked. I must admit, part of my identity was tied to how I dressed for work every day. People could recognize “my style” or who I was by what I wore. I dressed to maintain a certain image. However in my new role, I no longer find myself living under those requirements.
This reminds me of the dilemma the Jews faced after Christ’s resurrection. For many generations they were controlled by the law. There were set expectations and requirements they had to follow. Just as with my professional dress requirement, their identity was wrapped around this way of life. It separated them and identified them as God’s chosen people. This was a problem for the Jews when they no longer needed to live by the law because they had redemption through their faith in Christ’s resurrection not through their obligation to follow the law.
Galatians 3:24-27 tells us, “The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.”
Not only was it a drastic change in how they lived. It took away an identity that promoted them above others.
I fear we do the same thing today. We establish self-imposed requirements in our lives just to establish an identity so people see us in a certain way. If your motive for a particular behavior is to distinguish yourself from others, this isn’t necessary. This is the same as following a law that is no longer required. We cannot get caught up in self-promoting actions to show others who we are or to prove to Christ we are worthy. Our actions should be reflective of God’s nature, abundant with love, and the other fruits of the spirit all while becoming more like Christ. This is the evidence that will identify us as a child of God, the identity we desire.
This was made clear to me when my late husband first became ill. I can remember thinking that we had followed all of the rules, We had been faithful in every way possible. How could bad things happen to us? I had to realize, following the rules isn’t what God truly wanted, and following the rules doesn’t protect us. God wants our heart and wants us to live a Spirit-led life.
Speaking of a spirit-led life, Just because I am no longer required to dress in an executive professional manner, doesn’t mean I can go to my new job dressed however I want. It would not be in my best interest if I showed up in my pajamas. Likewise, just because we are not sanctified by the law, and we have been released from that covenant, doesn’t mean we can throw all caution to the wind and live however we desire.
God’s word and the Spirit gives us guidance for how to live a healthy, abundant, Christ-centered life. Romans 7:6 speaks to this, “But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit,”
When we are living in the Spirit, we are constantly seeking the Spirit’s guidance to direct our steps and provide wisdom for our decisions. Romans 8:13 tells us it is “through the power of the spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature.”
I don’t have to wear suits any more. There is a new way to dress. Likewise, there is a new way to live. We live in the Spirit. The Spirit guides us and directs us. “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature desires. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is the opposite of what the Spirit wants.” Galatians 5:16.
Don’t let your self-imposed standard be your identity. Live in the Spirit, follow his direction and be free.
Every three months Scott and I make the trek to the El Reno Cemetery to change the flowers on Jeff’s grave. It is a routine we have down to an art. When we were there the first week in September changing the summer flowers out for the fall flowers, we noticed several new graves in the area. We were back again the first week in December changing out the fall flowers for the winter flowers. As part of our normal routine, we were checking out the new neighbors as many of them had headstones up by now. Anyway, the whole time we were there, an elderly man was puttering around at one of the newer graves. He was making the motions of rearranging the flowers on the grave, but really never moving anything. I couldn’t stand it any longer and had to go over and talk to him. It was clear as I approached and looked at the new headstone, he was standing at his wife’s grave. I began the conversation by asking if this was his first Christmas without her. I learned he celebrated their 49th anniversary in November with out her and many other first that 
happen during the infamous year of first that happens after the death of a loved one. After we talked for several minutes, he asked me what I’m sure appeared to be the obvious questions, “is this your parent’s grave?” He was surprised to hear that it was my husband’s, but I pointed out Scott, who had been standing there the whole time. I said, “Look, God gave me a new one.” That created quite a laugh and then we were able to talk about living life after the loss of a loved one.
View From My Shoes 