Devo 40
8/4/01
Wow, it's been a long time since my last devo. Part of was because of computer problems, but the other part is that after so long being idle like that, it's hard to actually make myself sit down and write. In fact, this is my third attempt at this devo and it looks like I've finally finished one (I always write this intro last, that's how I know it's finished). I hope your summer has been well, and that it continues to be so. Instead of boring you with how uneventful my summer has been, I thought we'd jump right in here. Sorry it's a bit long, but I have several weeks to make up for :)
"The Way of Truth"
We talked today at church about Psalm 119. You probably already know that this is the longest chapter in the Bible (176 verses) so understandably we only studied the highlights. But before we began, we were all given the opportunity to take a few minutes and read through some of this passage, just wherever we felt led. I happened upon vv. 25-32 and read them several times.
"My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word." 119:25
Do you ever feel like this? It reminds of a passage in Romans where Paul cries out, "Who will release me from this body of death?" Our society seems to place a big significance on the soul, it being the transcendent part of our being, the part that is above the gritty realities of life, the part that keeps us going. But to have my soul clinging to the dust! When my soul was made for so much more! It's humbling to realize how often my soul, my heart, clings to the dust of this world, and even enjoy it. It's no wonder that the next words in this Psalm are 'Revive me!" But don't miss the rest, "...according to Your word." The word is of course, the Bible, and I don't think I'm stretching things too far by reminding you that Jesus was also referred to as 'the word made flesh'. Revival of the soul lies in the word.
"I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes." 119:26
The first step is always confession. And with confession, the realization that we have done something wrong, a sense of guilt. The book of I John goes so far as to say that we are liars if we claim we have not sinned. But he also says that if we confess our sins, we will be forgiven. Can you see how important it is to confess? How could we be forgiven of something we won't own up to? But confession is only the first step. Confession, and feeling guilt for our sins are only useful if they lead us to repentance. Turning away from sinful acts and walking in the opposite direction, the way of righteousness. Fortunately, there is a guide for this path that so few seem to take; "Teach me Your statutes."
"Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works." 119:27
I don't know about you, but my life can seem like a roller-coaster. Sometimes I can be riding a spiritual high where everything I see testifies to the greatness of God. At other times I can't see anything beyond my own personal wants and desires. And typically, on this 'dark side' the last thing I want to do is to go to my Bible for encouragement and direction. I know in my mind that this is what I should do, but, putting it bluntly, I just don't want to. But then I'll see a sunset; or maybe I'll be at college group and I'll stop and listen to the other hundred or so people around me singing praises to God, and then something breaks. There is something inspiring about watching God work, whether in a landscape, or on a soul. It's exciting and encouraging to see just what God can do with and through those willing to be used. "So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works."
"My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word." 119:28
Unfortunately the road of righteousness is not too easy, especially if you are just getting back on it. Old habits pull hard, and old desires are longing to be indulged. This is the part we don't often hear about. A lot of times you will only hear about our sin, and God's forgiveness. But often left out is that repentance is hard. You rarely see an alcoholic give up drinking in a day and never again feel a craving for a beer. The same is true with smoking, or any other kind of addiction, and the same is true with sin. It's hard, if not impossible to quit sinning 'cold turkey'. The road is hard to begin with. "Strengthen me!" is our cry. But again, don't miss the next part,"...according to Your word."
"Remove from me the way of lying, And grant me Your law graciously." 119:29
I think anymore, a lot of people get 'confession' and 'repentance' mixed up--or at least they take them to mean the same things. I do this a lot myself; I start thinking that all I need to do is admit that I've sinned in a particular area, and that the grace of God will take care of the rest. Of course, this does nothing to deter me from sinning again. Confession has become easy. I realize there is no use in hiding the fact from God that I'm a sinner, but I often forget that confession is only useful if it leads to repentance; to turning away from my sin. Yes I realize that until I die that I will never become perfect, but does that mean I shouldn't try? We can tell God all day about how bad a liar we are, but if you are truly concerned about the sin in your life, you will actively seek to get rid of it. And guess what, God is always willing to help out! "Remove from me the way of lying!" And do you remember the promise in Psalm 1 for he who walks in the way of righteousness? "...and whatever he does shall prosper." There are great promises and rewards for committing to God's way.
"I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me." 119:30
Repentance takes a will of our own, God cannot do it by himself. If He was willing to change our attitudes and actions in a snap, there would have been no need to kick Adam and Eve out of the garden. He would have just snapped His fingers and all would be right. But, what good would our love be if it was only expressed under these manufactured conditions. God wants us to love and to desire Him, but He also wants us to do it of our own free will. And for this, we must consider both of the ways we can go in this life, and then choose the way of truth. As much as I wish that God would just snap His fingers and I no longer feel the desire to sin, I realize that 'cheating' this way would make my love worthless--I would have no choice but to love. And so daily I must actively choose the way of truth. "Your judgments I have laid before me."
"I cling to your testimonies; O LORD, do not put me to shame!" 119:31
When you read your Bible, do you ever find yourself ignoring the Old Testament, or even New Testament books like Acts, and instead focus on the teachings of Paul or Jesus? I do too, and I think it's because I can get a lot more out a verse of Paul, then I can from a chapter of I Samuel. Paul is teaching, the Old Testament is mainly a bunch of stories and history. But they're there for a purpose. They can be a way for us to remember how faithful and just God is. Do you remember when Joseph was thrown in a well by his brothers? He became second in command of all Egypt. Do you remember a little shepherd boy who played his songs to his sheep? He became Israel's greatest king. Even though in Psalm 119 'testimony' is used synonymously with 'law', 'word', and others, remember that these stories were part of that word. When we can't see beyond our present circumstances and it seems that there is no way through it, remember that the Israelites thought the same thing when they came up against the Red Sea. The stories are put there to provide encouragement for those who would seek God, but they also give a warning to those who would reject God. "O LORD, do not put me to shame."
"I will run the course of Your commandments; For You shall enlarge my heart (NIV--You have set my heart free)." 119:32
I said earlier that repentance is never easy to begin with. But if we are sincere in giving to God our lives, He will be faithful to reward us in full. Why? So we can praise Him all the more. A. W. Tozer described something he called the 'paradox of love'. Imagine that you feel thirsty and so you go get a drink. Well, then you aren't thirsty anymore. But suppose you are filled with a desire and longing for God and so you go to God to be filled--through reading His word, practicing obedience and so on. But instead of being filled and no longer desiring God, you are filled and desire God all the more. That's the paradox. The more we get, the more we want. And the more we see of God, the more we desire to praise Him and to know Him better so we can praise Him all the more. God's blessings always lead us to a place and a condition where we can praise Him even more than before. The road is hard, but it does get easier, but only for those who are committed to following God, who are serious about repentance. And when we have committed our way to the way of truth, then we will be ably to say as well, "You have set my heart free."