November 1, 2019 -- Psalm 119:44 -- Keeping His Law
/I will keep you law continually,
forever and forever.
Psalm 119:44 English Standard Version
Perhaps you are quietly objecting in your mind as you read this short verse today—”it is all well and fine for the psalmist to declare he will continually keep the law, but I can’t. It is too difficult!” You are so right. Humanly speaking it is way too difficult. However, consider these words: “May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence…” II Peter 1:2-3 ESV.
Those who know Jesus Christ as our Savior—the One Who Rescued us from our sin and bore the punishment of God against it on the cross—are also those who know Him as the Lord of power—by His Spirit He is continually giving us His glory and excellence so that we may live for Him. The choice that is always, every single second of the day, before us is this: am I going to use my mind to serve God? Am I going to use my money in accordance with the glory of God and His praise? Am I going to treat my spouse in such a way that God is praised and my spouse is honoured? Am I going to put to death the lusts that wage war against my body and use my body in holy and honourable ways?
That is too exhausting, right? Yes it is. If we are slogging it out in our own strength. The promise is that God our Father has, Himself, already given us all things necessary. The rock solid promise of the Word is that He has granted—notice this is in the past tense—all the things we need to live this way for His glory and excellence! More than this, our obedience is still faltering, the best we offer is still foolishness and weakness, but Jesus Christ speaks on our behalf, He says: “Father, credit what they are doing with My perfection and My obedience.” It is on us to confess our mess each and every time and then to walk in His ways.
Pray—God, Source of Every Good Gift—send Your Spirit to help me. Be glorified in my life today.
Thank Jesus for His work on Your behalf—oh how much You have given us so that we have all things (read that again) Jesus has given us ALL THINGS that pertain to life and godliness!
Trust that God Who is faithful, has given You His Spirit in response to your prayers. You will know the presence of the Spirit in these ways: your conscience will be reawakened. You will notice sin is losing its appeal. You will clearly see opportunities to sin presented to you and clearly see the alternative—the way out. You will be bolder to confess Jesus in your words and your actions.
Exactly as You promised, Mighty God of Heaven, we hold out our hands to receive—grace and peace multiplied to us in knowing You and knowing Jesus Christ. Ah, we bless You, King of kings and LORD of Lords that in Jesus Christ and by His power You have already given us all things necessary for life and godliness. Spirit of the Living God, assist us so that we will keep God’s law continually, and joyfully, now and forever. Amen.
