January 29, 2003
Reading:
Psalm 119: 57-64
“I thought about
my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies” (59)
Two weeks ago we thought about Haggai 1:5,
“Consider your ways,” and the importance that we do so. The scripture under
consideration today takes us to the next step. It is one thing to hear God tell
us to consider our ways, but to respond positively to that command is something
else. As children of God, the Holy Spirit constantly speaks to us to examine
our lives in the light of the scriptures. The Bible reveals Jesus as the
Standard to which we ought to compare ourselves. As we see His perfection we
need to strive to become more like Him. If we are sincere in our desire to have
the Holy Spirit lead us in that ever changing process of sanctification, we
will follow David’s example and turn our feet to His testimonies.
Sanctification is a process – one in which
each individual Christian is called upon to participate. “Work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you” Phil
This is not something to be taken lightly. If
we wish to grow in Christ we will not casually wander down this road, but will
pursue the goal with great haste. “I made haste, and did not delay to keep Your commandments” Ps 119:60. This is the key to a closer
walk with Jesus – haste, determination and intensity. It is a race to be run and
a fight to be fought (2 Tim 4:7). Christianity is not an armchair religion. The
casual Christian who fails to pursue godliness will never know the fullness of
God in his life. Paul’s prayer for the saints at Ephesus was, “That Christ may
dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in
love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and
length and depth and height-- to know the love of Christ which passes
knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” Eph 3:17-20.
Every one of us has issues we need to turn
away from, issues that keep our feet pointed in the wrong direction. Sin does
not have to be flagrant and evident for all to see to hinder our progress with
the Lord. In fact, most sin in the life of a believer,
is subtle and known only to him and God, but nevertheless, it needs to be
aggressively dealt. “But you, O man of God, flee these things
and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness” 1 Tim
As the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to us in all
His perfection, we will become more and more aware of those things from which
we need to flee. However, as we flee from ungodliness in all its hideous forms,
we must, with the same enthusiasm, hasten to keep His commandments. Ungodliness
must be replaced with godliness, anger with love, jealousy with joy, and
hardness with compassion. Jesus loved His enemies, had compassion on the sick,
and worked tirelessly to fulfill the will of His Father - so we are called to
do the same.
“Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin
which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set
before us, looking unto Jesus” Heb 12:1-2.