Psalms 119:32 " I will pursue your commands, for you expand my understanding."
I often hear from various sources whether it's on the news as someone's opinion or reading in different circles of the internet, that for those who are not followers of Christ, surrendered to Him and living in redeeming grace, express how archaic they perceive reading the Scriptures and taking it as a guide for one's life seems to be. I've even heard following the commandments as being barbaric. These opinions astonish me when they arise. So, I ask myself the question, "Why would some one think that the age old truths and commands from the Bible that I love and try my hardest to adhere to were out-dated or even heinous? Why don't I think they are?"
Well, first of all, I know that being one with Christ has a lot to do with why I don't think His commands are out of date. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. That means His Holiness, His Kindness, His Justice, and His Love are the same towards us, His creation, at all times. So, asking Him to "create in me a pure heart and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalms 51:10) daily means that He works on making me more like Him, which means loving truth, righteousness, peace and justice just like Him. So, if He is the same yesterday as He is today, it only makes sense that the essence of the Scriptures, no matter how long ago they were written have the same depth and applicability to today's world I live in.
But, secondly, this Scripture in Psalms 119 I think really reveals to me the heart of my Heavenly Father for me, His Child. See, sometimes I have stayed up late at night asking why do I feel such a longing for God's truth. Why do I have such a yearning to do what is right in His eyes? Do I seek His approval? Do I think acting right will get me more love? Well, in light of these questions, I obviously know that anything I will ever try to do in my own strength to seek God's approval will ultimately be worthless...because I know the sin that I was drenched in before He saved me. I know the debt I owed before He ransomed me with His everything. I know...that I cannot win God's love...because He already loves me...and He demonstrated that through Jesus. So, again, why this yearning if I know that I can't win more love or approval? And the answer lies in what I mentioned before...that the heart of my Father towards me is good. He wants me to pursue His truth in His commands because He KNOWS it will increase my understanding of Him! He desires for me to obey Him...so that I can truly see His goodness and somehow understand this incredibly mysterious Maker and Giver of Life!
When I read this verse today, it clung to my mind. As I read it again and again, I felt that small surreal feeling...that little warmth that builds right in your chest as if almost to make you cry and laugh at the same time...the feeling of revelation. God revealing to me that even in this unraveling of understanding I was having at this very verse...I was experiencing that goodness He has for each on of us! He so wants all of us to know how He loves us. And He loves in so many ways it is unbelievable! So, I'm praying for my brothers and sisters right now, that God will reveal just how He intends to show you His goodness, whether it is through a sunset, a child's laugh, but especially His word. I'm praying we dive more into His word. He has so much He wants to share.
