True Concern
Pe
Your statutes are wonderful;
therefore I obey them.
The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.
I open my mouth and pant,
longing for your commands.
Turn to me and have mercy on me,
as you always do to those who love your name.
Direct my footsteps according to your word;
let no sin rule over me.
Redeem me from human oppression,
that I may obey your precepts.
Make your face shine on your servant
and teach me your decrees.
Streams of tears flow from my eyes,
for your law is not obeyed.
Psalm 119:129 - 136
I was a bad kid at school. Well, high school anyway. I hated authority and thought it was cool to give teachers trouble. I thought it was good to be bad. Good to fight the system at every opportunity.
But now, I realise it wasn’t good at all. Ironically I became a teacher. Now I see how foolish this sort of behaviour is. It hurt me (I certainly suffered in terms of learning). It harmed others through disruption and it was just wrong.
There is something wrong about good rules being disobeyed. There is something wrong about helpful authority figures being rejected and disregarded.
But nothing compares to the wrongness of people ignoring and rejecting God’s law. Because it brings harm to ourselves, to others and ultimately it is disregarding the God who made us and is entitled to our obedience.
The Psalmist reminds us that we should care about God’s laws being disobeyed. Far greater than any injustice is this.
But if you are anything like me - this doesn’t bother you look it should. I’m not brought to tears that people disregard God. So I’m praying today that God would help me care more.
For Today:
Pray: Praise the Father who is good and whose ways are good. Give thanks for Jesus who follows God’s laws perfectly. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others care about the disobedience of God’s laws.
Your statutes are wonderful;
therefore I obey them.
The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.
I open my mouth and pant,
longing for your commands.
Turn to me and have mercy on me,
as you always do to those who love your name.
Direct my footsteps according to your word;
let no sin rule over me.
Redeem me from human oppression,
that I may obey your precepts.
Make your face shine on your servant
and teach me your decrees.
Streams of tears flow from my eyes,
for your law is not obeyed.
Psalm 119:129 - 136
I was a bad kid at school. Well, high school anyway. I hated authority and thought it was cool to give teachers trouble. I thought it was good to be bad. Good to fight the system at every opportunity.
But now, I realise it wasn’t good at all. Ironically I became a teacher. Now I see how foolish this sort of behaviour is. It hurt me (I certainly suffered in terms of learning). It harmed others through disruption and it was just wrong.
There is something wrong about good rules being disobeyed. There is something wrong about helpful authority figures being rejected and disregarded.
But nothing compares to the wrongness of people ignoring and rejecting God’s law. Because it brings harm to ourselves, to others and ultimately it is disregarding the God who made us and is entitled to our obedience.
The Psalmist reminds us that we should care about God’s laws being disobeyed. Far greater than any injustice is this.
But if you are anything like me - this doesn’t bother you look it should. I’m not brought to tears that people disregard God. So I’m praying today that God would help me care more.
For Today:
- Have you thought it was cool to break rules?
- Do you see why God’s rules are good?
- Does it bother you when other people break God’s rules?
Pray: Praise the Father who is good and whose ways are good. Give thanks for Jesus who follows God’s laws perfectly. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others care about the disobedience of God’s laws.
Posted in Psalms
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