October 22, 2019 -- Psalm 119:37 -- Turning from death to life

Turn my eyes from worthless things;

and give me life in your ways.

Psalm 119:37 English Standard Version

Have you ever just surfed through a bunch of TV stations aimlessly searching for something, anything to watch and then been surprised at how much time has elapsed? Have you ever just begun to think about the accomplishments of others and started to feel resentment and envy and then ultimately a day that started well and with a good mood became sour? Richard Baxter phrased it so well, our flesh murmurs against the things of God. It is true, isn’t it? I freely admit my soul murmurs against the things of God. I can think of times when I’d decided to act in good conscience and bless the LORD, and my own laziness began to rise against me and my innate unwillingness to do the things of God was allowed to entangle me and keep me from the good I had purposed to do.

The psalmist is noting something in his prayer—when the LORD enables him to turn his eyes from worthless things then he will receive life in God’s ways. The ways of God revive the soul (Isaiah 57:15). The fact of the matter is that our hearts long for love, our yearning is for significance, leaving a lasting legacy, or doing something of great importance. Yet we settle for sins that diminish us and would humiliate us if they were known to others.

Here is the grace of God: the moment our eyes are fixed on the LORD our Master we find we are loved, profoundly and deeply loved and we are given life in Christ. When we wrestle against our flesh and do battle in order to stay true to our Father, we find our life to be exciting and valued. The best and greatest legacy we can leave behind us is faithfulness to Jesus Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Even if no other person on earth would ever see our faithfulness to Jesus, He alone can bring you delight and He is our Reward.

Shake the lethargy from my bones and the daydreams from my eyes so that I will turn from worthless things, O God my Master. Blessed are You, for in You is life and joy everlasting. Amen.