Scripture: “Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.
- I have more understanding than all my teachers for your testimonies are my meditation.
- I understand more than the aged for I keep your precepts.
- I hold back my feet from every evil way in order to keep your word.
How sweet are your words to my taste—sweeter than honey to my mouth.
Your testimonies are my heritage forever (for they are the joy of my heart).” Excerpt from Ps 119:97; vs 99-103; vs 111.
Observation: How do I love you, Lord? By loving your Word all my days and to give it back to my children and coming generations as a treasured heritage.
Application: I think the Holy Spirit hammers on the subject of the Word in Psalms 119–Pounds and pounds and pounds.
I wonder why?
And then I think about the face in the mirror and I cringe: Because I don’t love the Word like I should.
Look at the benefits: I have a bunch of understanding—more than my so-called teachers. I understand more than the old guys around me. I am empowered to avoid every evil way.
How? By fiercely embracing His Word—meditating on; keeping, and; savoring His Word.
Here is me being transparent: Because I don’t hang with folks who love the Scriptures, it is easy for me to reach an equilibrium, a level spot, a place where I am no better and no worse—to use a sports analogy I play to the level of my competition.
That’s not to put the onus of underperforming on others (“They made me do it…”) because the responsibility always lies with the face in the mirror. But it is a reason to go and find a Bible Buddy; someone to talk about the Scriptures, to talk about doctrine, to hang out and discuss the Wonder and Character of God, etc.
Heady stuff? Not really. Too deep? Heavens no. Inconsequential and leads to arguments? No and maybe—but good arguments can come from exploring the Character and Attributes of God; the Doctrines that our Faith is built upon.
The consequences of not building affection for the Scriptures are right out there, it is evident both academically and experientially. Understood: Can’t get to there overnight—but if I think about it, I can’t get to anything overnight when it comes to being a disciple.
So I plod toward the goal of the high calling in Christ. Maybe I will find someone to run with along the way.
Prayer: You brought this to mind on the way in, O Lord: “…forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:13-14) Steady plodding reaps results. Help me to run the race O Lord Jesus. If I can’t run because of stuff, I certainly want to walk steadily to the Goal. AMEN.