Loving God's Law
Psalm 119 is a remarkable chapter in the Bible. It is not only the longest chapter, but it focuses on God's Word and the benefits of living by it. There are so many insights recorded in this one psalm that we could spend weeks soaking them up. However, this morning I want to briefly consider loving God's law.(Psalm 119:165)
We must remember that love is not a feeling! Love is a decision to put someone or something ahead of ourselves. It does begin with an attraction of some kind, but the attraction is not the love. It does have feelings that come with the decision, but they are not the love. When we love someone or something, we do what they want us to do freely, not out of obligation, and we develop a deep relationship with them. All of this is true of loving God's law, God's word.
Those who love the Bible put reading it, knowing it, and meditating on it ahead of their own desires. They do what they learn with joy. They grow to love it more and more as the relationship develops. They can't imagine not having the law of God in their lives, because it becomes such an important part of who they are.
When this happens in our lives, this verse assures us that we will have great peace. We will not have a divided mind because we are set on God's way. We will not have stress over what to do, because His word is clear. We will have peace in following our King by trusting His word and doing it. Also, we will find that nothing causes us to stumble. We see the falsehoods and the hindrances put in our way by the devil, and we know how to avoid them and overcome them, because God's law has shown us what to do. Therefore, we continue our lives in great peace and stability, as we continue to love the law of God. What a blessing!
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 121-123.
We must remember that love is not a feeling! Love is a decision to put someone or something ahead of ourselves. It does begin with an attraction of some kind, but the attraction is not the love. It does have feelings that come with the decision, but they are not the love. When we love someone or something, we do what they want us to do freely, not out of obligation, and we develop a deep relationship with them. All of this is true of loving God's law, God's word.
Those who love the Bible put reading it, knowing it, and meditating on it ahead of their own desires. They do what they learn with joy. They grow to love it more and more as the relationship develops. They can't imagine not having the law of God in their lives, because it becomes such an important part of who they are.
When this happens in our lives, this verse assures us that we will have great peace. We will not have a divided mind because we are set on God's way. We will not have stress over what to do, because His word is clear. We will have peace in following our King by trusting His word and doing it. Also, we will find that nothing causes us to stumble. We see the falsehoods and the hindrances put in our way by the devil, and we know how to avoid them and overcome them, because God's law has shown us what to do. Therefore, we continue our lives in great peace and stability, as we continue to love the law of God. What a blessing!
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 121-123.