“May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; then I will answer the one who taunts me, for I trust in your word. Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws. I will always obey your law, for ever and ever. I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, for I delight in your commands because I love them. I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.” (Psalm 119:41-48 NIV)
How blessed we are to enjoy the trust of God’s promises! The songwriter said, “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take him at his word.” And the Lord’s Apostle to the Gentiles emphasized this truth: “For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God” (2Cor. 1:19-20 NIV).
We do not worry that either his promises or his word will ever fail us. So we confidently put our hope in Christ and proclaim, “AMEN” to the glory of God. And we commit ourselves to obedience of all that he has commanded.
Thus we walk about in the freedom of true discipleship. Note this promise : “Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32 NIV). We don’t simply study the words of Jesus. Rather, we incorporate them in our lives and continue to practice them to the best of our ability on a daily basis.
How marvelous is this truth! O how great is this freedom! Is it any wonder that the Psalmist sings of the delight in searching the Lord’s commands? There’s something about abiding in the teachings of Christ that causes the springs of living waters to overflow. When true discipleship has developed in your life, you can stand before rulers and not be ashamed to speak of Christ. But it is love — our love– that motivates our delight, our praise, and our obedience.
Dear Father, thank you for your Son and his commands to his disciples. Empower us with a passionate love for Christ and his commands. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in your obedience to Christ’s commands,