Gentle Reader,
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
Who walk in the law of the LORD!
Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
Who seek Him with the whole heart!– Psalm 1:1-2; Psalm 119:1-2 (NKJV)
There are days when I see a whole lot more conflict than blessing. The psalmist must have had moments when he thought, “Eh, nah, troubled is the man who delights in the law of the Lord.” Inevitably, it seems, the one who truly, desperately wants to obey and please God will butt heads with others, often quite unexpected others. And then that one gets to sit back and wonder why those others get away with the things they do.
A tale, as they say, as old as time.
Father, help me to remember that stooping to their level is no good. Blessing really is found on the higher road, the only one that leads to You. Even if I can’t see it or feel it right now.
Kate says: need.
Go.
Best be keeping this one simple.
If you call yourself a Christian, you need to read the Bible. You need to devour it. You need to love it. You need to soak the pages with your tears and look up the words you don’t understand. You need to pay attention to how pastors and teachers interpret and apply passages. You need to learn how to interpret and apply for yourself.
This world is full of voices and ideologies and philosophies. You need to know what is true, good and pure in order to recognize what is false, bad and gross. You need to make a conscious choice to submit yourself to the commands that stretch across the thin pages, commands from God Himself.
You need to stop making excuses. You have time. You’re smart.
Get in there. Do the thing.
It cannot be that the people should grow in grace unless they give themselves to reading. A reading people will always be a knowing people.
– John Wesley
Stop.
good post, good reminder, needful.
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I preach these words to myself just as much to anyone else. 🙂
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The simple and vital truth, expertly told. But what else would one expect from you, Marie?
When I grow up I want to shine with that awesome light, too.
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When I grow up I want to be as tough as you are and able to find light in the dark the way you can.
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Yes, it’s true. There are no excuses- if we want to grow in our knowledge of God we have to be reading his Word.
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Yes, indeed. I think we have to ask Him to give us a hunger for the Word. I don’t know that we can muster that up on our own. Thankfully, that’s the type of prayer He gives a resounding “yes” answer to.
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“If you call yourself a Christian, you need to read the Bible. You need to devour it. You need to love it.” great quote:) reading GOD’s Word is certainly an outworking of our love for Him!
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It is an act of love, isn’t it? Reading His Word is part of keeping the relationship growing. Thanks, Martha!
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Preach it sister!
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This makes me think of my Pentecostal great-grandmother. 🙂
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So thankful for these words today, especially today: “Inevitably, it seems, the one who truly, desperately wants to obey and please God will butt heads with others, often quite unexpected others. And then that one gets to sit back and wonder why those others get away with the things they do.” Although I’ve not soaked my Bible with my tears, my heart aches over disappointments these days. Thank you for reminding me that I need to be intentional about seeking His face.
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I’m so sorry that you’re in that place, Erendira. I pray that God brings you a measure of healing and some extra wisdom today.
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Thank you Marie for your kindness.
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Plainly spoken truth, Marie. Thank you.
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Speaking it to myself, too. 🙂
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