Meet Robin Bruster

The laws given to Moses in the Old Testament may seem foreign to us, but they served an essential purpose in helping the people of Israel be different from the nations around them. Today, we are free from the laws of the Old Testament because of Jesus’ sacrifice, but we are still called to love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds, and to love others. However, just like the Israelites, our pride and self-serving nature keep us from pursuing the Lord. The two verses we are studying today teach us that God’s laws reflect His holiness and our sinfulness, but God’s grace redeems our offenses.

A couple of years ago, I was in the process of pursuing a PhD and was in the middle of writing my dissertation. I became consumed with pursuing this degree and was doing so at the expense of my health and my relationships. One night, I was telling my husband’s family about my struggles in this area, and my father-in-law lovingly pointed out to me that this degree had become an idol. There was something about him pointing out my sin that was both painful but also very freeing. For the first time, I could see the situation clearly. I recognized that I was finding my worth in my accomplishments, and I was worshiping all the things I thought this degree would bring to me. After much prayer, I decided to leave the program and take a master’s degree. God revealing my sin to me was the thing that allowed me to be free.

It is painful for us to see our own sin, but once we recognize it, we can start getting free from it. God does not intend to put commands on us to burden or shame us; quite the opposite is true. He has given us His commands so that we can experience His grace and live free of the things that actually keep us in bondage. Where sin shackles us, God’s abounding grace gives us freedom!