The joy of obeying His word
Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees... I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalms 119:2-5, 11
Is there a time that when you read passages from the Bible that it makes you uneasy? Do you feel that what you are reading directly speaks to you? When this happens you are experiencing the reality that the word of God is alive and that God can read your thoughts and judge your intentions. “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires” (Hebrews 4:12). As the Psalmist declared from the text, “Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.” When God’s word speaks to us it is always for a purpose. God knows our heart and knows what we need to do to bring our life into conformity to Christ. God will confront acts of sin in our lives. We can escape or avoid the discomfort brought upon us by avoiding the conviction He is impressing upon our heart and mind. But to do so will ruin our spiritual life as well as our walk with Him. We can become so comfortable with compromising with sin that our hearts become callous that we find it hard to listen to God’s Word. When this continues to happen, we will no longer experience real joy that comes only when we heed His word As the psalmist have said in Psalm 119:11, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” The Word of God was given to us so we will know the mind of God and experience His love and mercy. He wants us to fellowship with Him and the best way to do this is by spending time in His word. Allow God to convict you by helping you find attitudes and actions in your life that are contrary to His will. Pray as the Psalmist prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart” (Psalm 139:23). Let us make it a habit of taking our minds captive by His word so we can faithfully keep His commandments.
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
www.my-wbc.com