A Heart Inclined in the Right Direction

Psalms 119:112 I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, even to the end.

•  Inclined:  to stretch out; to spread forth
• Perform:  to do, to accomplish
• Statutes:  refers to definite prescribed or written laws, including the moral law written upon our hearts in our consciences
• Forever:  refers to a set time
• To the end:  perpetually, always

The psalmist stretched his heart out in the direction of obeying God’s Word with the intention of keeping it there throughout his lifetime here on earth and into eternity.  Essentially, he made the decision to give his heart one choice and one direction:  toward the Lord.  He wasn’t being legalistic or restrictive, but simply protective.  The heart needs discipline and direction because it is easily fooled into following the wrong desires.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds. 

We used to drive to North Dakota when our kids were small to visit my husband’s parents.  Along the way we would pass through a lot of rural farm areas.  My favorite were the fields of sunflowers.  The entire crop would face in the direction of the sun, following its pathway across the sky.  They were inclined toward the sun, in the same manner that the psalmist’s heart was inclined toward the Lord’s Word.  No second guessing, no rebellion, no need for any other direction.  The sunflowers got all they needed from the sun and the desires of the psalmist’s heart were met in the Lord.

 Psalms 37:4-6 Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday.

 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end. He was not half inclined to virtue, but heartily inclined to it. His whole heart was bent on practical, persevering godliness. He was resolved to keep the statutes of the Lord with all his heart, throughout all his time, without erring or ending. He made it his end to keep the law unto the end, and that without end. He had by prayer, and meditation, and resolution made his whole being lean towards God’s commands; or as we should say in other words — the grace of God had inclined him to incline his heart in a sanctified direction. Many are inclined to preach, but the Psalmist was inclined to practise; many are inclined to perform ceremonies, but he was inclined to perform statutes; many are inclined to obey occasionally, but David would obey alway; and, alas, many are inclined for temporary religion, but this godly man was bound for eternity, he would perform the statutes of his Lord and King even unto the end. Lord, send us such a heavenly inclination of heart as this: then shall we show chat thou hast quickened and taught us. To this end create in us a clean heart, and daily renew a right spirit within us, for only so shall we incline in the right direction. — C. H. Spurgeon

Jeremiah 24:7 I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.

Oh, Lord, like the psalmist I incline my heart towards Your word forever and always.  But, You know my heart and how easily it is fooled.  Give me a heart to know You so that I will be Yours and You will be mine.  I give You my whole heart and all its desires, knowing that You can better care for it than I can.  Thank You for being faithful and trustworthy, even with the fragile nature of my heart.

A Snare Set For Me

Psalms 119:110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not gone astray from Your precepts.

•  Wicked:  morally wrong; an actively bad person
• Gone astray:  to vacillate; to reel; to wander away from
• Precepts:  refers to something entrusted to man; mandates for which man is responsible

The psalmist’s enemies set a trap for him, but that did not stop him from moving forward in the things that the Lord gave him to do.  I find it interesting that is A TRAP, singular and not many traps.  We all have a snare into which we are most inclined to fall.  That snare is Pride (also known as Selfishness).  Selfishness is the root of all the bait that draws us towards the enemy’s trap.  Addictions, Lust, Deceit, Greed, Bitterness and so forth all stem from a heart that thinks of itself first and most.

The psalmist fell big time into the snare of the wicked with his relationship with Bathsheba.  His selfishness of wanting what he wanted when he wanted it, even though it didn’t belong to him, precipitated adultery and murder.  But, when the psalmist repented of his own sin of selfishness, he was more keenly aware than ever before of God’s grace and mercy, and also of the insidious nature of his enemy who would never stop trying to steal, kill and destroy the Lord’s glory in his life.  He knew there was a snare for him and he knew what it looked like.  He kept a keen eye out for it and refused to be sidelined by it because he trusted his God, not himself.

Isaiah 52:12 … the LORD will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

 He was not snared, for he kept his eyes open, and kept near his God.  He was not entrapped and robbed, for he followed the King’s highway of holiness, where God secures safety to every traveller. He did not err from the right, and he was not deterred from following it, because he referred to the Lord for guidance, and obtained it. If we err from the precepts, we part with the promises; if we get away from God’s presence, we wander into the wilds where the fowlers freely spread their nets. From this verse let us learn to be on our guard, for we, too, have enemies both crafty and wicked.  Hunters set their traps in the animals usual runs, and our worst snares are laid in our own ways. By keeping to the ways of the Lord we shall escape the snares of our adversaries, for his ways are safe and free from treachery. — C. H. Spurgeon

 (John 10:4-29) When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers… My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

Lord, make me keenly aware of the snare the wicked have set especially for me.  Give me discernment to both see it and avoid it.  Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I will not wander away from Your will and way for me.  Thank You for being my companion and security guard along this life.  I would not make it without You!

Living in A Foxhole

Psalms 119:109 My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law.

The psalmist was not ignorant of the danger in which he lived.  Our existence is always fragile at best, but when one lives a life dedicated to the Lord and at odds with the world about him, he abides with a bigger target on his back.  The psalmist wasn’t depressed or angry about his situation, for he was a man familiar with the necessities of battle in order to ensure the security of his kingdom.  Believers ever live with the same necessity, but in a culture where we are too comfortable in the freedom bought by the sacrifice of others we are more inclined to surrender than to fight.

The psalmist, as always, let his spiritual foundation be the ground on which he walked, even in danger.  He also penned the magnificent 23rd Psalm in which he made the same commitment and faith:

 (Psalms 23:1-6)  The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

 They say that all things are fair in love and war; but the holy man thought not so: while he carried his life in his hand, he also carried the law in his heart. No danger of body should make us endanger our souls by forgetting that which is right. Trouble makes many a man forget his duty, and it would have had the same effect upon the Psalmist if he had not obtained quickening (Ps 119:107) and teaching (Ps 119:108). In his memory of the Lord’s law lay his safety; he was certain not to be forgotten of God, for God was not forgotten of him. It is a special proof of grace when nothing can drive truth out of our thoughts, or holiness out of our lives. If we remember the law even when death stares us in the face, we may be well assured that the Lord is remembering us. — C. H. Spurgeon

While there may be no atheists in foxholes, but the Enemy has done a good job of fooling us into thinking our foxhole is summer cottage.  What is YOUR foxhole?  Where are you in the most danger?  Physically?  Emotionally?  Spiritually?  Our lives are continually being threatened because we have an Enemy who is relentless and never tires of finding ways to steal, kill, and destroy God’s kids.  Even so, we do not have face that threat unarmed.  Everything we need is in the arms of our Dread Champion.  We need only be strong in HIS strength, through His Word and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

 (Ephesians 6:10-18) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.

Oh, Lord, don’t let me be fooled into thinking my foxhole is a summer cottage.  May I always be aware that my life is continually in danger from the enemy’s influence and attack.  Draw me close to You and protect me.  Arm me with the best defense, the sword of Your Spirit.  Protect me with Your truth and holiness.  In all of it, keep my heart soft and warm towards others but steely cold against all unrighteousness.  You, O Lord, are a shield about me, You’re my glory, and the lifter of my head; and I trust You with my life.

Spontaneous Gifts

Psalms 119:108 O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, And teach me Your ordinances.

•  Accept:  to be pleased with
•  Freewill offerings:  a spontaneous gift (Exodus 35:29), a voluntary sacrifice (Leviticus 22:23; Ezra 3:5), as opposed to one in consequence of a vow, or in payment for some offence.

1Timothy 4:12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. 

What do the things that come from my mouth spontaneously say about my belief system?  Would God be pleased to see that they are a sweet example of a person who loves Him?  Too often we think that being an example is about not swearing or not saying anything inappropriate, but what about grumbling?  Whining?  Complaining?  Gossiping?  Those are the things that seem to come out of nowhere, and give a bad reflection of my faith.

The psalmist wanted the Lord to be pleased with all the things that came out of his mouth so he voluntarily offered praises to Him, giving his heart to receive all that came from His mouth.  It is like a small child who repeats what he hears.  The more we spend time with the Lord, the more we will automatically repeat what we hear.  Relationship, not religion.  Religion says “I must”, while relationship says, “I want to”; religion says “I know”, while relationship says, “I need You to teach me.” Religion says “I will” and relationship says, “I am (because He is).”

 (Hebrews 13:15-16) Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. 

Lord, be pleased with all the things that come out of my mouth.  May I proclaim Your goodness and faithfulness, and may I shout with joy because of Your unfailing love.  Keep me close so that I will repeat what I have heard from You, and only that.   “If Thou wilt teach me, I will teach others, as I have already done; and so Thou shalt have glory, and others benefit by it.” (Matthew Poole)

Pledge Confirmed

Psalms 119:106 I have sworn and I will confirm it, That I will keep Your righteous ordinances.

The psalmist remembers the allegiance he gave to the Lord (see verses 8 and 10) and he once more confirms it.  As a child, we used to stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning.  It was a solemn reminder that my loyalty and commitment to my country was important and necessary.  How much more is this true of our steadfast dedication to fidelity unto the Lord?

The psalmist has battled long and hard; he has experienced darkness, persecution and loneliness.  But he has also experienced the love, grace, mercy and faithfulness of his sovereign Lord.  At the end of the day, he can say “It is well with my soul and I will keep on following my God where ever He should lead.”

 It Is Well by Horatio G. Stafford

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Faith puts no trust in itself, but in the One who is worthy.  A pledge confirmed is a resolve to stand in faith and, with that, God is pleased to reward.

Oh, Lord, to You do I swear my allegiance with cords of love and do hereby confirm, by Your grace, my desire to never to turn from it.  I choose to trust You and not what I see or feel.  Thank You for being the firm anchor upon which I can hold and know that I will not be moved so that even when the sea billows roll, all will be well with my soul.

Never in the Dark

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalms 119:105 Nun. Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

The lamps used by the psalmist were not large, nor were they particularly bright.  Olive oil (representative of the Holy Spirit) was typically the fuel used to keep the wick burning.  They would have illuminated just enough to see where their feet needed to go, but not much beyond it.  The Word of God, indeed, casts light enough for each step of a believer’s life.  The psalmist says it is a “lamp for MY feet and a light for MY path;” therefore it is personal and intimate.  A lamp must be both carried and maintained to be of any use to the owner.  As believers, we have a responsibility to take daily care in making sure that our lamps are full of oil and lit before darkness falls.  This implies a daily relationship with the Holy Spirit through prayer, worship and obedience.

•  (Ephesians 5:7-14) Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”
•  Philippians 2:14-16  Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life…
•  2 Peter 1:19  So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.

I would like to suggest that believers who take serious their need to carry their lamps openly as they walk also shine God’s light upon others who might be having a more difficult time doing so.  The enemy has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the truth of their salvation shining (2 Corinthians 4:4) but our God has the ability to shine so bright through His earthen lamps (us) that it pierces even the darkness of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:6-7).  If we put one lamp in a dark room, it brings some light; but with enough lamps in a room darkness has no place to hide.

 (Matthew 5:14-16) You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

The psalmist did not leave the imagery at a personal lamp that needs to be carried and maintained; he also says that God’s Word provides light for his path.  The Hebrew word for light refers light that comes primarily from heavenly bodies but also for light itself.  The pillar of fire in Exodus (13:21) was a light for the Israelites.  God is clothed with light (Psalm 104:2) and to walk in the light means to live by God’s known standards (Isaiah 2:5).  Eventually, we will have no need for the light of the sun or moon because God Himself will be the only light necessary for us.

 (Revelation 21:23-24) And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 

The Word of God is a tangible and personal source of light that each one of us can carry with us to illuminate our way.  But it is a light, distinct and separate from the need for our maintenance or attention.  It illumines our both our present darkness and the shadowy future to come.  It surrounds us, giving us comfort, protection, and hope beyond our ability.  I believe that when we read God’s Word diligently, it is something tangible and consciously useful for that moment by moment walk, but it also is written upon our hearts and minds in such a way that it brightens and shines in ways that we may not even consciously be aware until we look back upon a dark time and see that it was lit by His Truth and Grace all along the way after all.

Psalm 18:28 For You light my lamp; The LORD my God illumines my darkness.

O Lord, send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your dwelling places. (Psalm 43:3)

No Pet Lies

Psalms 119:104 From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

•  Precepts:  refers to something entrusted to man; mandates for which man is responsible
• Understanding:  to separate mentally; to distinguish
• Hate:  personally detest
• False:  a lie; a sham; deceit
• Way:  A well trodden path

 We are wise if we obey and we grow wise by obeying! — C. H. Spurgeon

The psalmist’s ability to separate things mentally using the principles God entrusted to him brought about the result of properly placed affections.  He not only found God’s Word totally tasty and delectable, but also found every lie and untruth extremely distasteful.  His ongoing spiritual education had refined his taste buds to the point that only the things pertaining Truth were at all pleasing.

What are some well trodden paths of deceit?

1. Self-righteousness
2. Pride
3. Worldlines
4. Hypocrisy
5. Unbelief
6. Immorality

 The psalmist detests them all, holding no “pet lies” affectionately to himself.  He is not of the kind that “spits out some sins, when he rolls others as sweet morsels in his mouth” (George Swinnock).

Doing what we are supposed to do and going where we are supposed to go, with whom we are supposed to be in company, puts us in the best place to love and follow the right way and to hate and turn from the wrong way.  The children of Israel chose to follow the Lord out of captivity, until the road got a little rough and they began to remember some of the lovely things they had left behind.  If we don’t loathe the things from which we have turned, we WILL return to them… even if it is in a whiney unbelieving attitude.

Love is the difference.  If we love our flesh, we will find that the well trodden paths of deceit are so alluring that we will find ourselves on them without even realizing it.  If we love the Lord, however, even should we find ourselves headed down one of those paths of deceit, we will turn quickly and return to Him.  Love is a commitment and is not a feeling, and that is never more true than in our relationship with the Lord.  We commit to follow Him, to love Him, to obey Him… and then we trust Him to give us what we need to follow Him, to love Him, and to obey Him.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”

Lord, only You can give me the desire to follow after You, the ability to follow after You, and the affections to keep me following after You.  I need You!  You said that if we abide in You, You would come abide with us.  I come to You and, in faith, I trust You to come to me.  Let me distinguish between the things that “feel” good and the things that are actually good because they are Yours.  May I hate ALL the paths of deceit and love Yours.

Love Makes a Better Student

Psalms 119:102 I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, For You Yourself have taught me.

•  Turned aside:  literally, turned off
• Ordinances:  judicial verdicts (judgments)
• Taught:  to point out as if aiming with one’s finger

We learn best by observing those we love and by actively participating with them in whatever it is that we are learning.  For instance, if I want to learn to cook, I can turn on Food Network and watch a bunch of folks I don’t know and get a whole lot of information about cooking, most of it really good information.  Even with all the great chefs, wonderful techniques, and delightful recipes, I probably will glean little by just watching.  If, however, Paula Deena was my mother (we do share a common love for butter!), and I sat in her kitchen every day watching her, and doing the things that she showed me, then I would most definitely learn to not only cook, but cook well.

Personally, I think this is the biggest issue with our youngsters these days.  There is no one home to teach them anything.  From cooking to character, and everything in between, our young people are being educated by strangers and by their peers.  But I digress…

Our Heavenly Father hard-wired us to learn best under personal care, and He is oh so good at bringing that type of “home school” to our spiritual education.  He personally teaches us with His own hand upon hearts and minds, using the methods and tools specifically designed for our learning.  There are no learning disabilities that He is not completely and utterly qualified to overcome.

•  John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
•  1 John 2:27 As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

So, why does it seem like I struggle to learn some things?

I homeschooled my youngest son from third grade through high school graduation.  He was extremely bright and had an amazing capacity to learn the things that he enjoyed.  The unfortunate part is that none of the things he enjoyed pertained to school work.  Thus, reading, writing and arithmetic were the thorns in the side of his existence.  After a couple of hours of lessons, he used to tell me that he was “full of learning”.  He would quite literally shut down and there just was no getting any more learning done because he closed the door to it.  He, in essence, turned off the volume to my voice and tuned me out.

Not only do we learn best under personal care, but we also learn the quickest the things we value, appreciate or love the most.  The issue is not with the Teacher or the with Lesson, it is often with the Student (me!).  Sometimes I am like my son and just get “full of learning”, feeling burdened and overwhelmed by my circumstances.  Other times, I hit the “off” button without even realize I have done so, because I am way too much like the dog on the movie UP! that is distracted by every squirrel, thought of a squirrel or sound of a squirrel around him.  It doesn’t take much to distract me from the Lesson at hand.

 Lest it should seem that David ascribed the praise of godliness to himself, or that it came from any goodness in him that he did refrain his feet from every evil way, he gives here all the glory to God, protesting, that because God did teach him, therefore he declined not. Wherefrom we learn, that if at any time we stand, or if when we have fallen we rise and repent, it is ever to be imputed to God that teacheth us; for there is no evil so abominable, but it would soon become plausible to us, if God should leave us to ourselves. David was taught by his ordinary teachers, and he did reverence them; but that he profited by them he ascribes unto God. Paul may plant, and Apollos water; God must give the increase. –William Cowper.

The psalmist removed the “off” button from his ears, keeping himself available to God’s lessons at all times.  He made a choice to learn and not to stop learning.

Quiet times are a necessary part of the spiritual learning process, and provide a solid and consistent time to learn; but the heart that is only willing to learn in the school room will find his educational progress retarded and incomplete.  The things we learn in the quiet of our time with the Lord, must be practiced and worked out in the rest of our lives or they will be left behind in the room in which we studied.  That means that we become like the psalmist who was willing to take the Teacher and His Lessons with him everywhere he went because he loved Him and wanted to learn all He had for him.

   The choice property of this teaching is, not only that it makes wise, but that it captivates the soul, strengthens it, and holds it to a holy obedience. –J.F. (From Treasury of David)

Oh, Lord, I do so love You and I love Your word.  I WANT to make sure that my ears never get plugged or distracted from Your personal teachings, for I know that in them is my hope, my comfort, my salvation, and my direction; but I cannot do it on my own.  I need You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I the lessons are not lost or wasted.  May Your love for me keep me close and may my love for You keep me attentive to You.

Nope, You May Not Go!

Psalms 119:101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word.

•  Restrained:  to restrict; to hold back; forbid, withhold
•  Evil:  physically, socially or morally bad
• Way:  a well-trodden road
•  Keep:  to hedge about as with thorns; to protect

In his active effort to protect God’s word in his heart and life, the psalmist adamantly refused to give his feet permission to travel in any direction that was evil, no matter how well-trodden it was by others.  His wisdom, insight, and understanding gave him all he needed to see that there are certain places that are not ever worth visiting.

 If we begin to depart a little we can never tell where we shall end. — C. H. Spurgeon

 (Proverbs 4:14-15) Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on. 

Like Eve, many of us find ourselves walking too close to the vicinity where we should not be, giving the Serpent an opportunity to influence us.  We don’t stop to consider where a particular path may take us, but often just follow along with the crowd.  This never ends well.

Holiness isn’t just about the things we do or don’t do.  It is an attitude of being set apart, of belonging to the Lord.  Those whose hearts belong to the Lord have no desire to be where He isn’t; and He is never on the well-trodden paths of those who practice evil.  I wonder if so many of the things that I consider “non-issues” would be “big deals” to the Lord simply because they are tiny, momentary detours away from His holy presence.  When I abide in Him and He abides in me, we should always be walking together, even in the secular and the mundane.  How often I miss that point to my relationship with Him!

 (1 Thessalonians 5:21) But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.

 We should abstain from sin, and whatever looks like sin, leads to it, and borders upon it.  He who is not shy of the appearances of sin, who suns not the occasions of it, and who avoids not the temptations and approaches to it, will not long keep from doing sin.  — Matthew Henry

Oh, Lord!  I am often so very short-sighted and do not see the danger on a path until it is too late.  Please restrain my feet from every evil way by Your grace and merciful Holy Spirit.  Sanctify me entirely; and may my spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Wax On

Psalms 119:100 I understand more than the aged, Because I have observed Your precepts.

• understand:  to separate mentally; to distinguish; to discern
• obeserved:  to guard, protect, maintain; obey
• precepts:  refers to something entrusted to man; mandates for which man is responsible

This continues the three-fold work of God’s word upon the mind of a believer.  In verse 98, the psalmist highlighted practical wisdom which comes as a result of owning God’s commands as if they were his own; in verse 99, he highlighted insight or perception which comes from continually spending time thinking about God’s faithful witnesses.  Here, he highlighted understanding or the ability to separate things mentally, which comes from actually doing the things that God has told him to do.

The psalmist knew what to do, how to do it, and why he needed to do it because he did what he was told.  I can’t help but think of the movie The Karate Kid.  The boy wants to learn karate to defeat an enemy and an old sensei begins his training with a multitude of seemingly ridiculous tasks.  He has to wax a car, sand floors, refinish a fence and paint his sensei’s house.

 Daniel fails to see any connection to his training from these hard chores and eventually feels frustrated, believing he has learned nothing of karate. When he expresses his frustration, Miyagi reveals that Daniel has been learning defensive blocks through muscle memory learned by performing the chores.  Pasted from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Karate_Kid_(1984_film)>

This is a fanciful visual of a real-life spiritual application.  God specifically gives us things for which we are responsible and as we are obedient to them, then we learn very specific things which prepare us for the next thing.  As we obey, we build up spiritual memory so that eventually it is so much a part of who we are that we can say along with the psalmist that we are wiser than our enemies, have more insight than our teachers and more understanding than the aged.

 “The old is better” says one: but the oldest of all is the best of all, and what is that but the word of the Ancient of days.  — C. H. Spurgeon

How often have I found myself in a situation where I can say without a doubt that God is teaching me something; and how often am I whiney, easily distracted, bored or even disrespectful in the lessons?  Too often, He has to use that faithful rod of His to remind me that He is the teacher and I am not.  And on the rare occasion that I actually sit still under His tutelage with my attention focused, what a pleasure it is to learn and understand!

One more time, the best (and most pleasurable) lessons come when I:

Own them.

Stick with them.

And put them into practice.

Many are wise late in life, having walked the long, hard road of learning the hard way.  None are wise too early (Thomas Manton).  God has given each of us everything we need to be wise at any age and all it requires is becoming His student.  Oh, but I guess if I want to become His student then I also have to be willing to learn, even if it isn’t fun or easy.

Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

“Walk alone with Me, and although I use you to minister to many, follow none.  Follow Me.

This is the inmost secret of a holy life:  the doing of MY will.  The more perfectly you fulfill My will (My SPECIFIC plan for you), the more pleasing you are to Me; and I am more pleased with your obedience than with your understanding, although you have a tendency to be more concerned with the latter!  You often seek to understand things that are too complex and things that are not meant for you to know at this time.  Be content to know that I have full knowledge, and be willing to wait for the day in which I have promised that the many impenetrable mysteries of life shall be unfolded.” — F. J. Roberts

Obedience is all well and good, until it costs me something.  Obedience requires a wholehearted 24/7 commitment, not a half-hearted do-it-when-and-if-I-feel-like-it commitment.  To do what I am asked when it benefits me, reveals nothing of my love and commitment (i.e., deny myself and take up my cross and follow Him) but to do what I am asked when it is difficult and contrary to my nature is the epitome of love and commitment.

It is interesting, that by doing what God asks me to do I get what I really want (wisdom, understanding, connection, peace etc.) but when I don’t do what God wants then I get the very things I hate (foolishness, trouble, unrest, fear, worry).  So, even if I don’t really feel like it or know why, it is always, always, always beneficial for me to do what God asks.  He is always on my side and there is nothing I can’t do with that kind of personal teaching!

Lord God, give me an obedient heart so I can learn all that You would teach, whether it seems useful to me or not.  Remind me continually that it is Your love that teaches me better than Your rod.  Thank You for not leaving my to my own foolish ways.  I trust You to give me understanding, wisdom and knowledge as I need it.