relationships (Psalm 119:33-40) It Helps to Understand

(Psalm 119:33-40) 

33 Teach me, the way of Your statutes, Lord,
     And I shall comply with it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, so that I may comply with Your Law 
     And keep it with all my heart.
35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
     For I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies,
     And not to dishonest gain.
37 Turn my eyes away from looking at what is worthless,
     And revive me in Your ways.
38 Establish Your word to Your servant 
     As that which produces reverence for You.
39 Take away my disgrace which I dread,
     For Your judgments are good.
40 Behold, I long for Your precepts;
     Revive me through Your righteousness.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

We cannot save ourselves, and God does not expect us to be good first before He will save us.  He just wants a sincere, humble and willing heart to seek after Him.  When we become believers, Jesus enters our heart, and we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.  So when David asks of God in verse 34 to "keep" His Law in his heart", God does exactly that!  We cannot lose our salvation.  When we stumble, God revives us through His righteousness.

God is also like the good parent who assures their children that they love them;  and because they love them, there are rules in place;  and there are reasonable rules in place to protect everyone and help everyone get along.  So, in the same way, it helps us to understand "the why" behind the commandments of God.  The Lord Jesus certainly loves us, and wants the best for our lives, so He does not hand out commandments to make our lives difficult or miserable.  His commandments are very reasonable and logical, and by putting all of them into practice, things work for good.  And there aren't really that many.  In fact, Jesus sums them all up into two:  love God first with all your heart, soul and mind;  and then love others.  

Also like a good parent, God is always there to teach, guide and to help.  So, another helpful and important thing to understand is that we are to do all things in God's love, wisdom and strength.  We can literally ask Him to do things FOR us.  When and as we ask, the Lord will work in and through us, and He is continually working on our hearts to change us for the better, from the inside out.