LIVING FOR GOD REQUIRES
RESOLVE
Psalm 119:25-32
My soul clings to the
dust;
give me life according to
your word!
When I told of my ways,
you answered me;
teach me your statutes!
Make me understand the way
of your precepts,
and I will meditate on
your wondrous works.
My soul melts away for
sorrow;
strengthen me according to
your word!
Put false ways far from me
and graciously teach me
your law!
I have chosen the way of
faithfulness;
I set your rules before
me.
I cling to your
testimonies, O LORD;
let me not be put to
shame!
I will run in the way of
your commandments
when you enlarge my heart!
As the writer arrives to
this section, he describes with clarity his
humanness, as he desires for God to lift him up through the teachings of the
Word.
He knows that he needs God
to make His ways known to him, and that life without the reviving of the
Scriptures is meaningless.
We would all agree with
that statement, but the proof of its reality is in how much time we dedicate to
knowing, understanding, meditating upon, applying, and living out the
Scriptures in our daily life. Are we really convinced that when we follow our
own ways they lead us in the wrong directions? Do we really believe that our
heart is deceitful and wicked? Do we truly believe that apart from God, we can
do nothing of value? Do we understand that our lives, if lived for earthly
goals, are worthless? If, while answering these questions we find ourselves answering
in the negative, then it will be normal for us not to have the necessary desire
and resolve to study God’s Word. I find that my daily routine tends to make me
less dependent on the Word.
The psalmist is resolved;
he wants to be taught and he wants to understand. The choice of the church we
go to exposes what we are looking for. There are churches that provide programs
and entertainment for the whole family, but do not have a high view of
Scriptures. There are churches where the music is elaborate, but the study of
the preaching of the Word is weak and shallow, in fact, it is the smallest part
of the Sunday service. Many prioritize the
social interaction in church over the teaching they hear.
Ephesians 4:11-16
And he gave the
apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip
the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until
we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so
that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried
about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful
schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way
into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and
held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is
working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
The role of the church leaders is primarily to teach
and prepare the believers, through biblical
truth, to mature and do ministry.
Our ability to see and
understand the wondrous works of God depends on our meditation of the
Scriptures. So often we marvel at the beauty of creation, and we should, but we
miss the amazing work of God in our inner lives because we are not focused
enough on the spiritual work God is doing.
We quickly give place to
sorrow and desperation because we lose sight of the work that God is doing. The
psalmist knew he needed strengthening. It is interesting that renewed strength
is not necessarily the result of a change of circumstances, but of a change in
focus and trust in the purposes of God.
The writer knows that it
is an undeserved favor for God to show us His ways and allow us to walk in
truth. At times we become so disgusted with the sin we see around us, but we
forget that we, ourselves, are not immersed in sin only because of the grace of
God. Naturally, we would not even desire God’s truth and direction. Because we
are so prone to go back to sin, we need to set God’s statutes before us
continually, as the writer tells us. Sometimes the attraction of the world
becomes so strong, that our resolve and clinging to the truth needs to disciplined
and purposeful.
Our hearts need to be
growing in our love for God and His Word; then our walk as Christians will
become truly resolute.
We must remember that the daily choices we make
reflect what we truly believe.
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