Tuesday, March 8, 2022

"The Precepts"

"Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness." Psalm 119:40

The dictionary defines the word precept as: a commandment or direction given as a rule of action or conduct. The Psalmist says here that he longs after the Lord's precepts. Why? Because he knows that in the precepts (the word) of the Lord there is life, heath, healing, guidance, strength, peace and joy. He knows that without His precepts he will never make it. They are a lamp into his feet and a light unto his path. He knew that he could not lean to his own understanding in any situation in life and trust that he has his own answer. He had to have God's word.

Most today, even in the church, think we have our own answers. We think we are wise enough, educated enough, rich enough that we don't need God's precepts. We have our philosophies to see us through. We have our opinions to guide us. We have our feelings to navigate us through life's situations.

When we lean to our own understanding, when we think we are smart enough to solve our own problems, when we think that the word of God is outdated and not relevant to today's problems, we are sadly mistaken. We will never out-grow our need for the word. With all our technology, with all our knowledge, with all our resources, we are still not wiser than God and His word!!

God's word is a gift to us. He knows we will never make it without its precepts. What are you doing with this gift? Do you neglect it? Do you treat it lightly? Do you place your own opinion or the counsel of others above it? Do you think that you have it under control and therefore don't need it? Or are you like the Psalmist-- longing after God's word because you know you will never make it through this journey of life without it?

Have a great day. How are you treating God's word?

For further reading:
Psalm 119:105; 16; 103
John 6:63
Jeremiah 10:23

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