“Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law.” (Psalm 119:61)
This past year we have being living in the Philippines and we have been reminded of Martin Burnham who less than a year ago was martyred for his faith. Martin and his wife Gracia were held captives by the Abu Sayif rebels in southern Philippines for over a year and in the end Gracia was released and Martin was martyred.
Each night Martin’s captures tied him to a tree and each night he thanked them and prayed for them. He maintained a loving attitude even when he was mistreated. Though they could bind his body they could not bind his spirit and his spirit was free to worship his God.
This is a picture of what the Psalmist was writing about in this verse. Do we have the attitude of the Psalmist and of Martin Burnham?
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Hasten
“I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.” (Psalm 119:60)
When our children were small we would give them instructions such as cleaning their room or washing the dishes. If they said yes but then delayed in doing what they were asked we told them that it is the same as being disobedient. Delayed obedience is disobedience.
Jesus said, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not the things I command.” Obedience is more than verbal assent, it is immediate action.
The Psalmist understood this truth and he said that he would not delay to be obedient to God’s command.
Abraham understood this principle. When God told him to offer his only son as a sacrifice he didn’t take time to debate with God. He immediately took up his son and went to the mountain of sacrifice.
Saul didn’t understand this principle and when he was told to slay all the enemies he kept some of the sheep which he said he would use as a sacrifice. The words of Samuel’s response have been a message to all generations. He said that obedience is better than sacrifice. God desires that we are obedient. Remember delayed obedience is disobedience.
When our children were small we would give them instructions such as cleaning their room or washing the dishes. If they said yes but then delayed in doing what they were asked we told them that it is the same as being disobedient. Delayed obedience is disobedience.
Jesus said, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not the things I command.” Obedience is more than verbal assent, it is immediate action.
The Psalmist understood this truth and he said that he would not delay to be obedient to God’s command.
Abraham understood this principle. When God told him to offer his only son as a sacrifice he didn’t take time to debate with God. He immediately took up his son and went to the mountain of sacrifice.
Saul didn’t understand this principle and when he was told to slay all the enemies he kept some of the sheep which he said he would use as a sacrifice. The words of Samuel’s response have been a message to all generations. He said that obedience is better than sacrifice. God desires that we are obedient. Remember delayed obedience is disobedience.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Turned
“I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.” (Psalm 119:59)
Many times we do not know right from wrong until we open the Word of God and apply the principles we find there to our own lives. The world has its own sense of values which are often in conflict with God’s values. We need to filter all that we hear from the world through the Word of God. Only then will we have a proper sense of values.
2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that the Word of God is profitable to us for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
Teaching tells us what is right. There are many places in Scripture that gives us standards of right and wrong; the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount are two examples. However, we often find ourselves falling short of the ideal.
Rebuking tells us what is not right in our lives. The Word of God is like a mirror which reflects back to us our short comings and failures. We read the Ten Commandments and know we have not lived up to God’s standard.
Correcting tells us how to make it right. That is why we must consider the teachings of the Word of God and turn back or repent of our failures. Jesus tells the Ephesian church in Revelation 2 that they need to remember how things were when they first loved the Lord, repent of their sins and return again to do what is right.
Finally training tells us how to keep things right. When we have failed, God’s word calls us to turn back to Him, to look into His Word and do what He has commanded.
When we consider our ways we realize that we have missed the mark and we need to get our eyes on the mark which is revealed through the statutes of God.
Many times we do not know right from wrong until we open the Word of God and apply the principles we find there to our own lives. The world has its own sense of values which are often in conflict with God’s values. We need to filter all that we hear from the world through the Word of God. Only then will we have a proper sense of values.
2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that the Word of God is profitable to us for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
Teaching tells us what is right. There are many places in Scripture that gives us standards of right and wrong; the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount are two examples. However, we often find ourselves falling short of the ideal.
Rebuking tells us what is not right in our lives. The Word of God is like a mirror which reflects back to us our short comings and failures. We read the Ten Commandments and know we have not lived up to God’s standard.
Correcting tells us how to make it right. That is why we must consider the teachings of the Word of God and turn back or repent of our failures. Jesus tells the Ephesian church in Revelation 2 that they need to remember how things were when they first loved the Lord, repent of their sins and return again to do what is right.
Finally training tells us how to keep things right. When we have failed, God’s word calls us to turn back to Him, to look into His Word and do what He has commanded.
When we consider our ways we realize that we have missed the mark and we need to get our eyes on the mark which is revealed through the statutes of God.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
What Are You Looking For?
“I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.” (Psalm 119:58)
What is the desire of your heart? If we desire something then we will work toward obtaining the object of our desire. We will plan and scheme, we will dream and work until that object is ours.
Jesus said that if we would seek then we would find. We cannot find the desires of our heart if we are just drifters and not seekers. There are some people who are drifters and they take whatever comes along.
However, that is how some people approach their relationship with God. They take the attitude of a drifter and not that of a seeker. A drifter never will be satisfied because he has no idea what he is looking for. He may claim that he desires a closer walk with God but he does nothing to obtain it. A drifter never fulfills his desires because he has not taken time to determine what those desires are.
What is it that we are to seek? Some search for fame, some for money, and some for happiness. In Proverbs we are told to seek wisdom as one would seek silver or a hidden treasure. A hidden treasure will not be found without seeking it out. Wisdom in Proverbs is personified in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is Him that we are to seek. It is Him that we are to desire.
Jesus gives us a promise in Matthew that will find what we seek. God is gracious and if we desire Him He will keep His promise to us.
What are you looking for?
What is the desire of your heart? If we desire something then we will work toward obtaining the object of our desire. We will plan and scheme, we will dream and work until that object is ours.
Jesus said that if we would seek then we would find. We cannot find the desires of our heart if we are just drifters and not seekers. There are some people who are drifters and they take whatever comes along.
However, that is how some people approach their relationship with God. They take the attitude of a drifter and not that of a seeker. A drifter never will be satisfied because he has no idea what he is looking for. He may claim that he desires a closer walk with God but he does nothing to obtain it. A drifter never fulfills his desires because he has not taken time to determine what those desires are.
What is it that we are to seek? Some search for fame, some for money, and some for happiness. In Proverbs we are told to seek wisdom as one would seek silver or a hidden treasure. A hidden treasure will not be found without seeking it out. Wisdom in Proverbs is personified in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is Him that we are to seek. It is Him that we are to desire.
Jesus gives us a promise in Matthew that will find what we seek. God is gracious and if we desire Him He will keep His promise to us.
What are you looking for?
Saturday, August 7, 2010
My Portion
“You are my portion, O Lord. I have promised to obey your words.” (Psalm 119:57)
The portion was a part of a gift or an inheritance that a person was to receive such as a gift from a father to his children or an inheritance from an estate.
In 1 Samuel 1:5 Elkanah gave a portion of meat to his two wives, Peninnah and Hannah and to Peninnah’s children. However, to Hannah who was childless he gave a double portion to show his love for her.
In 2 Kings 2:9 Elijah was about to be taken up into heaven and Elisha asked that he might receive a double portion of the blessing that was upon Elijah.
David did not ask for an earthly portion, whether it was an inheritance from his father or from the spoils of war. Instead he saw that the Lord was his portion.
Some people today teach a prosperity theology. They say that God will bless us financially if we obey Him. This contradicts Scripture and the teaching of our Lord. When we read the chapter in Hebrews that describes the heroes of our faith we read about those who died not having received the blessing. However, God says that the world was not worthy of them.
Our portion is not an earthly portion or blessing that we may receive as an inheritance from our earthly father but rather our portion is the Lord. When the Lord is our portion we have no other need.
There is, however, a condition attached to the portion and that is we must obey. David knew that the Lord would be his portion because he had promised to obey the Word of the Lord.
The portion was a part of a gift or an inheritance that a person was to receive such as a gift from a father to his children or an inheritance from an estate.
In 1 Samuel 1:5 Elkanah gave a portion of meat to his two wives, Peninnah and Hannah and to Peninnah’s children. However, to Hannah who was childless he gave a double portion to show his love for her.
In 2 Kings 2:9 Elijah was about to be taken up into heaven and Elisha asked that he might receive a double portion of the blessing that was upon Elijah.
David did not ask for an earthly portion, whether it was an inheritance from his father or from the spoils of war. Instead he saw that the Lord was his portion.
Some people today teach a prosperity theology. They say that God will bless us financially if we obey Him. This contradicts Scripture and the teaching of our Lord. When we read the chapter in Hebrews that describes the heroes of our faith we read about those who died not having received the blessing. However, God says that the world was not worthy of them.
Our portion is not an earthly portion or blessing that we may receive as an inheritance from our earthly father but rather our portion is the Lord. When the Lord is our portion we have no other need.
There is, however, a condition attached to the portion and that is we must obey. David knew that the Lord would be his portion because he had promised to obey the Word of the Lord.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
My Practice
“This has been my practice: I obey your precepts.” (Psalm 119:56)
What is your practice? Is it exercising, running, or walking every day? Do you eat certain foods? Do you practice a musical instrument or a sport? We practice what is important to us. Brother Lawrence practiced the presence of God. He did his household chores as if they were for God. He saw God in everything.
We do not keep the Law of God naturally, we need to know it and practice it. Christ is our example but He is more than our example. He kept the Law perfectly and it is only when we realize that even with all our practice we cannot do that. He did it for us. Does that mean we don’t have to keep on obeying? In Paul’s words, “God forbid.” We do need to practice knowing that Jesus is living out through us.
What is your practice? Is it exercising, running, or walking every day? Do you eat certain foods? Do you practice a musical instrument or a sport? We practice what is important to us. Brother Lawrence practiced the presence of God. He did his household chores as if they were for God. He saw God in everything.
We do not keep the Law of God naturally, we need to know it and practice it. Christ is our example but He is more than our example. He kept the Law perfectly and it is only when we realize that even with all our practice we cannot do that. He did it for us. Does that mean we don’t have to keep on obeying? In Paul’s words, “God forbid.” We do need to practice knowing that Jesus is living out through us.
Monday, August 2, 2010
In the Night time
“In the night I remember your name, O LORD, and I will keep your law.” (Psalm 110:55)
In the night could mean literally in the nighttime. When we wake up in the nighttime what occupies our thoughts. As someone said one time that instead of counting sheep we should talk to the Shepherd.
However, the night may refer to the night of our soul. When we are facing distress, despair, or discouragement what do our thoughts turn to? We need to remember that it is in these times that our God hears us even when it seems that our prayers go no farther than the ceiling. Look at the Psalms and see the number of Psalms that are songs of lament. Notice that they are not only Scripture but they are in Scripture. However, even more important than this is that we remember Jesus. He went through the turmoil of His soul for us.
In the night could mean literally in the nighttime. When we wake up in the nighttime what occupies our thoughts. As someone said one time that instead of counting sheep we should talk to the Shepherd.
However, the night may refer to the night of our soul. When we are facing distress, despair, or discouragement what do our thoughts turn to? We need to remember that it is in these times that our God hears us even when it seems that our prayers go no farther than the ceiling. Look at the Psalms and see the number of Psalms that are songs of lament. Notice that they are not only Scripture but they are in Scripture. However, even more important than this is that we remember Jesus. He went through the turmoil of His soul for us.
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