Years ago, when I became a Christian, I really thought it meant I had to talk a certain way, and read a certain amount of The Bible every day. I was expected to attend church regularly, and thought that it was necessary to display a certain piety that was evident by not cursing, not smoking, not drinking, etc. I had no idea that true biblical righteousness went far beyond these outward displays of spirituality. There is so much more to the Christian life than Daily Bible reading and a Christian-eze vocabulary. God wants more. He wants us to grow in faith and obedience. Today in Exodus, we read a small fraction of the plethora of rules that God lays out for the israelites to follow. Yes, there are rules to being righteous, but they must be the right rules, followed by the right heart and motive. If we follow the rules without caring for the people, we have missed the point of righteousness. God gave the people rules because he cares about them. He loves his people. In fact, he loves people so much that he sent us someone who was perfect in all his rules! He sent his son, as a saviour, to fulfil all of his rules and commandments for those who accept him. In love, Jesus is the culmination of all of the laws and rules laid out in the word of God. In him we have the key to all of his statutes. All-in-one place. And all he wants from us is to love him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.