Oh, How Love I thy Law! Rodney Nulph, The Psalmist declared, “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97). We live during an age when this affirmation is only proclaimed by few. Sadder still is the fact that even fewer practice such a declaration. It is one thing to state this verse with our lips, but it is another thing entirely different to show this verse with our lives! Many claim to love God’s Law, but fewer live it! What does it mean to “love Thy Law”? What would an individual do if he/she both professed and practiced this inspired text? Firstly, to love “Thy Law” is to learn it. This is not learning about it, but rather really learning it! The one who truly loves God’s Law will never be satisfied with his/her personal knowledge of it. He/she will always be hungering and thirsting for more learning (cf. Matthew 5:6). A classic Bible example of such is inspiration’s record of Ezra, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD…” (Ezra 7:10a). Learning God’s Law means we care not what the popular belief regarding a certain topic or text is. Learning God’s Law means that we are not concerned about who believes what we do. Learning God’s Law requires sincerity(Ezra 7:10; Matthew 13:8-9), study(2 Timothy 2:15; Psalm 1:2), searching(Acts 17:11; John 5:39) and submitting(Luke 11:28). If we really love God’s Law, we will learn it! Secondly, to love “Thy Law” is to live it. Learning God’s Law and failing to live it is futile. Again, Ezra is a classic example, for he not only sought God’s Law, but his desire was also, “…to do it…” (Ezra 7:10b). The half-brother of our Lord reminded us to be doers of the Word and not hearers only (James 1:22). Living God’s Law brings assurance(Romans 8:28; John 13:17; Hebrews 11:13ff ), approval(Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:21) and award(James 1:25; Matthew 25:31ff). Beloved, if we really love God’s Law we will live it! Thirdly, to love “Thy Law” is to lean upon it. The wise man commanded, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). What we believe religiously ought to affect our every action. This author once heard a man teach Bible class and declare how the “church” should love God’s Word, and yet when this man was faced with a decision, he chose his own understanding rather than God’s; how sad! How must God view the person who claims to lean upon His Word, but fails to do Bible things in Bible ways? How can a congregation belong to Jesus and allow human wisdom, think sos, opinions and traditions to guide its practices? Leaning upon God’s Word means that no matter what comes our way, God’s Word is the only authority! Congregationally, leaning upon God’s Word means that we fully preach it (Acts 20:20, 27; 2 Timothy 4:2). Could we truly lean upon His Word and willfully neglect certain subjects or texts? Leaning upon God’s Word means that we faithfully practice it(Revelation 3:8). How true the old adage “practice what you preach” really is!Leaning upon God’s Word means that we fully protect it(Jude 3; Philippians 1:17; Romans 16:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:6). If we really love God’s Law, we will lean upon it! Do we really love God’s Law enough to learn it, live it and lean upon it? To love it is to obey it (John 14:15). Let’s not just profess it, but let’s make certain that we sincerely and honestly practice it as well. May we honestly be able to say with the Psalmist, “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97). Is it yours? gospelgazette/gazette/2012/jan/page12.html
Posted on: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 09:03:45 +0000
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