Saturday, February 25, 2012

Enemies Ever With Me (Ps 119:97-104)



“Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.  You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me” (vs97-98).

I have many enemies, dangers, and fears (vs97-98).  “They are ever with me”.  God’s word is my refuge - pondering it, chewing on the gospel of Christ, and being encouraged by the promises of God. The gospel is continual hope and power for an afflicted people who are in over our heads. We don't run to human wisdom or pleasure at any cost, but we find grace in God’s word to persevere. We're hated because of the word, and by the word the hatred doesn't deceive us into quitting. We have MORE in Christ than sin throws against us...more help than Satan's attacks (Jer 1:7-8).

Be encouraged about your refuge in Christ, and use it unashamedly, hurrying yourself to the word and pondering Him amidst your affliction.  Don't turn from your hope simply because your hope is unreasonably hated.  

Secondly, keeping Gods word gives us understanding and wisdom (vs99-100). He says, “I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.  I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts”.  We are not foolish; we’re made wise by following Christ! We prepare wisely for the Judgment, and we live wisely for the truth, in love, right now. The most brilliant non-believer and the most strong minded sinner are unable to conquer God's truth. The most unintelligent saint is beyond his mockers in wisdom. He answers the meaning of life with teaching from Christ.  

Wisdom is God's truth not Satan's lies. Wisdom is holiness, faith, and love; it is walking uprightly and being at peace with Christ; it is caring for your soul and then the souls of others. Paul tells Timothy, “But you, O man of God, flee these things [the love of money, desire for sinful disobedience] and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Tim 6:11-12). You may think to yourself, “I'm foolish for following Christ, and missing out on the pleasures of sin". Yet you're living the wisest life by fearing God.

Finally, the gospel is sweet; it is good news to me because of the truth, power, and the reward (vs101-104). He says, “I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word.  I have not departed from Your judgments, for You Yourself have taught me.  How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” It is no lie, for sweet lies don't satisfy the soul. It is real power, so that it is more than a rule book; the gospel gives life by faith only, by believing its truth. The gospel is sweet, sweet, sweet because it rewards all obedient to its teachings. It never gives less than we put in. Christ's word is the treasure, the pearl of great price, and the one power able to cheer and save. It calls us and then rewards us; it isn't an indifferent thing; it is the ONE THING NEEDFUL because all real benefit is in its pages (Luke 10:41-42). Christ’s gospel reveals the truth that He died for sins, and we are saved, He earned the Spirit, and He shall reveal the benefits of heaven's bliss in due time . The gospel is God’s whole program - comforting, instructing, and securing us thereby - so we love hearing about Him from His throne. The believer is ugly to the world because he loves Christ, but the WORD of God is his sweetest thing.

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Heshimu Colar, Pastor

Heshimu Colar, Pastor
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