delight in the path

Good morning sisters and brothers,
I appreciate the passion, the joy and love the psalmist expresses about scripture. Not only is scripture recognized as helpful for being wise and faithful, it is also wonderful and pleasant in its own right. When I read the Bible I'm often moved to laughter or awe or sorrow or joy. God is so wonderful and the stories in scripture are so real. I pray we would grow in our appreciation and love of scripture today and everyday.

God bless,
Sam

Psalm 119:32-40

³²I run the way of your commandments, for you enlarge my understanding.

³³Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I will observe it to the end.

³⁴Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.

³⁵Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.

³⁶Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain.

³⁷Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways.

³⁸Confirm to your servant your promise, which is for those who fear you.

³⁹Turn away the disgrace that I dread, for your ordinances are good.

⁴⁰See, I have longed for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life.

guarding our way

Good morning friends,
I like the opening question to this section of Psalm 119: How can young people keep their way pure? Put a different way, since purity speaks to me less than integrity or moral strength: How can young people stay on the right path? Reading this right after hearing from Geoff and Sandy Smith from Youth For Christ really speaks to me as their ministry is very much about helping kids find and stay on the right path. The life of faith in general has a lot to do with keeping ourselves and our children on the right path, living the way we know we should.

The answer to that question the psalmist gives is exactly what we would expect: Guarding their way with God's word. We all read the Bible, at least occasionally, but where the Bible usually starts to really come alive is when we think about how scripture fits with our everyday life. Sunday worship is great, but if our faith doesn't impact the way we live the other six days of the week it won't be the powerful, life changing force that it should be. If we read scripture expecting it to help us make decisions and letting it guide us, God will keep us on the right path. Scripture truly can guard our way during the week. In that we will find not only faithfulness to our calling but also delight as we feast on the Word.

God bless,
Sam

Psalm 119:9-16

9How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
10With my whole heart I seek you; do not let me stray from your commandments.
11I treasure your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you.
12Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes.
13With my lips I declare all the ordinances of your mouth.
14I delight in the way of your decrees as much as in all riches.
15I will meditate on your precepts, and fix my eyes on your ways.
16I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.