Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Psalms 119:18

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your Law. (NIV)

The words ‘law’ or ‘commandment’ generally bring to mind the lists of rights and wrongs we carry around in our head. The old way to say it was, “I don’t smoke or chew or run with girls that do’. Actually our lists are a lot longer than this old phrase.

The challenge that arises is because we look at the law as taking away our rights and holding us back, if you will. “I want to do what I want to do when I want to do it.” It is totally about our wants and self-gratification. The 'wonderful' that we miss many times is God’s point of view and His purposes in our lives.

As a parent we tell our children not to play in the street or not to touch a hot stove. Our goal is not to keep them in the yard or keep them from the food we are cooking but to protect them from danger they don’t yet understand. The law was given to define God’s boundaries that protect us from broken hearts and broken spirits. The other function is to show us we need a Savior. On Sunday morning we can listen and agree with the Minister but on Friday night our present desires far outweigh the sense of duty to obey. It is not just strong will power; it is laying down our agenda and submitting our will to a loving, Holy Father.

We certainly feel great frustration when our children look at us and ‘touch the hot
stove’ anyway. How much more is our Father grieved by our defiance--no matter how well we can rationalize our behavior.

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