HAPPY WEDNESDAY!
Today's scriptures are about delighting in the laws of God. Laws are always put into place for protection and order. We must have some type of boundary set up to protect us from others, as well as protect us from ourselves. According to the natural order of life, everything has a boundary. The Law of God is no different. He's placed all of His laws, promises, and repercussions into one trustworthy book, the Holy Bible. No matter which translation you read, they are all saying the same thing - just as Dr. Stanley says, "Obey God, and leave the consequences to Him". King Solomon, one of the wisest men to ever live, also concluded in Ecclesiastes, one the books the bible he wrote: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Eccl. 12:13-14)
We're not only supposed to obey the Word of God, but we're to delight in His Word. We should enjoy being obedient, not only because we're rewarded, but because we're pleasing our Father in Heaven. It should please us that He's proud of us in everything that we do. He's proud of who we've become in Christ, and our love, fear, and reverence for Him. He knows, because of the flesh, it isn't easy to fight off the temptations of the world. We're bombarded with evil thoughts, evil people, and evil pleasures every day, all day. There isn't a corner that we turn, where temptations aren't lurking, it's the way of the world. God came in the flesh, as Jesus Christ, so He understands what we go through very well. Jesus said, “wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it" (Matt. 7:13). So for us to choose Him, and put Him first in all that we do, it pleases Him tremendously. We should rejoice in the fact that He's pleased with us, and we'll be blessed for doing so.
I mentioned in yesterday's devotional that the Word of God is our Sword. It's what we use to fight against the enemy, when we put on the Armor of God. It's the only weapon that will defeat all of the temptations that come our way. Everything we do in life needs to stand on the Word of God - the way we talk, interact with others (especially the people we love), and the way we conduct ourselves at all times. The Word of God brings the joy to our heart that shines brightly, and shows in the expression on our face. It also brings conviction when we fall short, or are about to take a step in the wrong direction, to help us avoid many pitfalls. I like the way the Psalmist describes it: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105) God's Word helps us navigate our way through life; like our compass of sorts. It tells us which way to go, and how to get there.
Every Word that God speaks is meant to give wisdom and instruction, even those words that you can't quite understand. I remember the first few times I read the bible, as a baby spirit, I just didn't get it. I was so upset about the wars, and the thousands of people being killed, in the stories of the Old Testament. I was even upset by the fact that our loving God would destroy the entire world. However, once I grew in my Spirit, and sought the wisdom in His Word, many reasons were revealed to me. In most cases the people didn't obey His Word, nor acknowledged the Laws given, so there had to be consequences. I will never again disagree with anything I read in the Holy Bible, because it's all be proven, and justified through the Holy Spirit. God is so mighty, that we can't begin to completely understand all that's going on in this world, but He's faithful and true to each of us. If we love Him, we seek Him, and He will reveal everything we need to know. He'll answer every prayer we pray, and bless us with everything we need in abundance. His Law promises that to every believer. That's been proven true in my life, and I'm sure it's been proven in yours.
By the grace of God, and the love of Jesus Christ, the most important laws we should delight ourselves in, are the easiest of them all. Jesus said: “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. ’This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt 22: 37:39) All God asks us to do is love Him and love each other. With that comes enough respect for Him, that we don't want to sin against Him, and that we're absolutely elated about pleasing Him. After all, isn't that what you do when you love someone? You're delighted to do whatever it takes to make them happy? It doesn't take much effort at all when you love them with all of your heart.
Although God commands us to love Him, He cannot make us do it. He can't make us choose Him, and accept the salvation offered to us-He allows us to choose. Just as we're to choose Him, we're to love Him, and be excited about that love, which is renewed each time we wake up to see another day. If you don't know Jesus as Lord, then it's time to pray and ask Him to come into your life. If you still aren't sure, take some time to take the God Quiz right now. My favorite verses today are: Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass. (James 1:22-23)
ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455490&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/broadcast/today-on-radio
http://www.intouch.org/magazine/daily-devotional
I love you!
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