Sticking to the speed limit

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I try and stick to the rules as much as I can. It's not always convenient or popular, but I do it anyway. That means I'm usually the guy going 22 mph in a 20 mph zone with a string of cars behind me all wanting to go faster. My mom once said (about driving on the highway) that if there's a speed limit, there's a reason for the limit. I've learned that I don't have to understand why a rule is in place to follow it. Not even when it is inconvenient.

So today, while driving to the grocery store, it was rather refreshing to be stuck behind a car going 20 mph in a 20 mph zone. There were no cars behind us, but it still felt liberating to not have the responsibility of sticking to the speed limit while others wanted to go faster. It felt like I wasn't the only one sticking to the rules. I almost wanted to pull up next to that driver and thank them for their wonderful driving.

It reminded me of a Bible passage: 

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds..."

(Hebrews 10:24 - NIV).

It can sometimes feel overwhelming to do the right thing the whole time. Especially when it feels like we're the only ones sticking to the rules. But this verse reminds me of two things:

  1. It's not just my responsibility to do the right thing - we have a community of fellow believers to help and support us, spurring us on in love and good deeds, nudging us towards holiness together.
  2. It's not just someone else's responsibility to do the right thing - my responsibility goes beyond making sure I alone love like Christ and do good deeds, I have to spur others on into doing the same.
This year, may we all spur one another on in doing good and loving like Christ. And may we have the courage to follow God's rules even when we don't understand them. May we trust God enough to follow His commands and surrender to His wisdom and insight.

Selah.

Photo by Ksenia Kudelkina on Unsplash

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