So picture this: Joshua 1:8 instructs God’s children that the Book of Law (also, God’s words, commandments, advice and truth) must be meditated on day and night, that they must observe to do all that is in it because it is the way to prosperity and good success.
Fast forward to Acts 7, 8 and 9 and we come across Saul, a complete observer and doer of the law: as per Jewish law, he was circumcised on the 8th day, he was of unquestionable Israel heritage, from the tribe of Benjamin, a member of the Pharisee party (who demand strict obedience to the Book of Law) and very zealous (in that, he loved persecuting the followers of Jesus.) In other words, there was no wrong to be found in Him. Except, this wasn’t true.
It is entirely possible for us, as Christians, to observe the right thing (give significance in our hearts and in our lives to the Bible) and still do the wrong thing. Saul, whose name later changed to Paul, was an example. Somehow he meditated on the word and observed, but it led him to do some of the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21).
If your actions in everyday life are nothing like what Jesus did or would do, then you are doing the wrong thing even though the motivation may be correct. We know what Jesus did, we also know the general ideas that the Bible points us to, but how can we know what Jesus would do in a certain situation? This is where the Holy Spirit comes in. He knows God’s mind.
We cannot observe and do without the Holy Spirit and we simply cannot have the Holy Spirit without salvation. In Philippians 3:7, Paul admits that his human effort, some of the things he was doing were pointless because they were in opposition to God’s plan for him. Which is to say: when you observe and you don’t see Jesus and you are not led to Jesus and Holy Spirit is far, far way, do not do. Keep observing! You can’t do the law without the Spirit of the law.
That Christian Next Door 