A philosophy professor began each new term by asking his class, “Do you believe it can be shown that there are absolute values like justice?” The free-thinking students all argued that everything is relative and no single law can be applied universally. Before the end of the semester, the professor devoted one class period to debate the issue. At the end, he concluded, “Regardless of what you think, I want you to know that absolute values can be demonstrated. And if you don’t accept what I say, I’ll flunk you!” One angry student got up and insisted, “That’s not fair!” “You’ve just proved my point,” replied the professor. “You’ve appealed to a higher standard of fairness.”

God has given everyone a conscience to tell right from wrong (Rom. 2:14-15), and His moral standards are written in the Bible. Every time we use the words good and bad, we imply a standard by which we make such judgments. Biblical values are true for any age, because they originate with an eternal, unchanging God. —Dennis J. De Haan, Our Daily Bread

"When outsiders who have never heard of God's law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. They show that God's law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God's yes and no, right and wrong." Romans 2:14-15 (The Message)

"It now begins to look as if sin and the Law were the same thing--can this be a fact? Of course it cannot. But it must be admitted that I should never have had sin brought home to me but for the Law. For example, I should never have felt guilty of the sin of coveting if I had not heard the Law saying "Thou shalt not covet". But the sin in me, finding in the commandment an opportunity to express itself, stimulated all my desires. For sin, in the absence of the Law, has no life of its own... But when the commandment arrived, sin sprang to life and I "died". The commandment, which was meant to be a direction to life, I found was a sentence to death. The commandment gave sin its opportunity, and without my realizing what it was doing, it "killed" me. It can scarcely be doubted that the Law itself is holy, and the commandment is holy, fair and good. Can it be that something that is intrinsically good could mean death for me? No, what happened is this. Sin, at the touch of the Law, was forced to show itself as sin, and that meant death for me. The contact of the Law showed the utterly sinful nature of sin." Romans 7:7-13 (Phi)

I am a sinner through and through. Like Paul, I know what it is to have my body desire to do sin, and it doesn't take long for the flesh to find ample opportunity afforded by my knowledge of the Law to express itself in any number of outlets. The best way I can describe it is this:

I've had a frustrating day. The Edward is being whiny, Michael's grumpy, I haven't had time with the Lord, I'm hungry, my tooth is starting to ache a little from the fillings I got this morning, I'm inside doing this instead of outside enjoying the beautiful weather and the short walk I was able to take with Edward ended with his crying the whole last half of the way home. I snagged a hole in one of my favorite socks and now my toe touches the bare floor. I've got calls to make, but I'm procrastinating because I hate the phone. It's not going to take much to set me off. I've had days when I've snapped much earlier. Not because of any one thing, but because I've suffered "injustice" long enough and my body screams for revenge!

But today, I am being ruled more by the Spirit than the flesh. Today I praised God for modern dentistry. I served my grumpy husband lunch. I calmly walked my distraught son home. I am doing my time with the Lord instead of lounging outside because I know I need it. Now that I've confessed to procrastinating the calls, I will make them because it's the right thing to do. I am choosing not to worry about Michael's job situation. I will make myself some tea. I say I've had a frustrating day, but I'm not feeling frustrated. The Lord is with me!

Thank You, Jesus! You are so practical in Your love. It isn't swayed by feelings, it doesn't diminish when we have different interests, it isn't self-seeking. Your love is better than life. It is AGAPE, and so rich. BLESS YOU for making this beautiful day - the day the Lord has made! I am determined to rejoice and be glad in it! :) Thank You that you are unchanging and that I don't have to constantly jump through hoops and read Your mind to figure out how to please You! I am grateful for the inner warning system of my conscience and Your Spirit to help guide me into safe pastures. I am ever thankful that I am not judged by my sins, but saved by the blood of my Savior. Father, Son, and Spirit. Holy Holy Holy.