Readings for today: Psalms 119:1-88
Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
There is a strange dichotomy growing in the American church today. It’s the idea that we can accept Jesus as Savior but reject Him as Lord. Sure, no one will put it quite that bluntly but it comes with the territory when you meet someone who claims to be a Christian while at the same time rejecting the commands of Scripture. I think of the number of Christians over the years who have told me God was calling them to get divorced. Not for adultery. Not for abuse. Not for abandonment. They simply had fallen out of love with their spouse. The relationship had gotten too hard. They felt trapped. So they justify in their minds and hearts an act of disobedience under the premise that God will simply forgive and forget. I think of the number of Christians I know who lie. They lie to their spouses. Lie to their children. Lie to those they work with or live among. Ultimately, they lie to themselves and they justify it for all kinds of reasons. Political. Social. Economic. Personal. You name it. And they assume God doesn’t care. I think of the number of Christians I know who plead ignorance when it comes to God’s commands. They honestly do not know what God expects from their lives and frankly - if they are totally honest - they don’t really care. They simply want to live their lives the way they want and they hope God gives them a pass.
Contrast that line of thinking with the words of Psalm 119 today…
“With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:10-11)
“I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.” (Psalm 119:16)
“My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.” (Psalm 119:20)
“Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.” (Psalm 119:24)
Over and over again, the Psalmist proclaims his love for the laws of God. His love is deep. Visceral. Powerful. Emotional. This is a man enraptured not with the rules of his faith but his relationship with God. He understands all relationships have boundaries. All relationships have expectations. All relationships demand something from each party. He is also humble. He knows he is dust and to dust he shall return. He knows he has no business being in a relationship with Almighty God. He understands it is only by grace that he stands. And out of the immense gratitude of his heart, he expresses his devotion to God. He longs to keep God’s commands. His greatest desire is to serve God and love God and honor God with a whole heart.
What about you? Do you know the commands of God? Do you know what God expects from you and why? Do love God’s Word like the Psalmist? Does your soul long to be obedient? “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart.” (Psalm 119:1-2) God’s blessings are reserved for those who seek to obey Him. Those who love Him enough to honor Him with their lives. Those who express their devotion to Him by seeking to align their lives with His life. They meditate on God’s Word. They memorize God’s Word. They long for their lives to be a reflection of God’s Word. When asked, they can tell you specifically what areas of their life God is working on even now. They can tell you where they’ve made progress and where they fall short. They can tell you of their battles with sin and temptation. They can show you the scars from the mistakes they’ve made and confessed. They know the road of repentance is full of detours and though they stumble like a drunk man from one side to the other, they inexorably make their way to God.
So again, what about you? Do love Jesus? Do you follow His commands? Let me encourage you to start with the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7. Essentially, it is Jesus’ interpretation of the Ten Commandments. It’s a beautiful picture of what the obedient Christian life is all about. Begin meditating on the sermon. Memorizing the sermon. Letting the words sink deep into your heart and soul that you may discover all the blessings God has for you in this life and the next!
Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 3-4, 2 Chronicles 1, Psalms 72