So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. (Romans 7:4)

A professor once commented that sidewalks for a university should never be planned by an architect. He believed that only grass should planted around new buildings. Then later, sidewalks could be poured along the paths that had been defined by students as they walked to their classes.

It seems to make sense. On any college campus one can see the clearly defined trails created by students. People have placed signs there saying “Keep off the Grass” but it almost always seems to make matters worse. There is something about a prohibition that translates into an open invitation to defy it.

In Romans 7 Paul pondered the relationship between the Old Testament laws, obedience and sin. The law was placed by God as a tool in understanding what sin was, but by its very nature, it made sin more evident and visible.

Jesus’ wisdom when questioned about which is the greatest commandment was to put in place two commandments that carry a “do” to them, rather than a long list of “do nots.” The carrying out of the “do” laws then become acts of loyalty and love. Goodness becomes more cherished and is much easier when we concentrate on what we should do rather than struggle with what we should not do.

God of wisdom and justice, give us the strength to “do,” so we won’t have to struggle with the “do nots.”