Tuesday, February 18, 2020
How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. I have tried hard to find you—don’t let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. I praise you, O Lord; teach me your decrees. I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us. I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word. Psalm 119:9-16[1]
My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear? James 2:1-7
The Psalmist has hidden God’s Word
in his heart so he will know the right way to act, and James the Apostle says
that word can’t stay as a bunch of memory verses; it must become the governor of
what a follower of Jesus Christ does, day-in and day-out. Word and Deed must match, or those very words
convict our deeds of unbelief. This is
something of a harsh truth, yet truth it is!
And, if it is true that the Word
of God hidden in our hearts is to be obeyed as much as it is to be cherished,
then obedience to that Word is our concern, day and night. What child is pleasing to his Father or Mother,
having been instructed by the parent to do this, and not that, and immediately
disregards what he has heard and does what he pleases – not what he’s been told?
It is that way for the follower of
Jesus to not only listen to the Word, agree in principle that it is what God
would have us do, even memorize it to earn a merit badge, but, then promptly
ignore the Word by doing the opposite; we become more of a hypocrite than if we’d
just admitted from the beginning that we appreciate the grace of Christ’s gift
on the cross for our salvation…but, thank you very much, I now will live my
life as selfishly as I please!
For
You Today
Go to VIDEO
[1] For
another post on Psalm 119:10 see Inheritance
of a Lamb’s Ear For Psalm 119:11 see
Scriptural
Sticky Notes
[2] Cherry
tree images via Wikimedia
& George Washington By John C. McRae, Public Domain, via Wikimedia
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