Archive for the ‘Saturday Psalm and Praise’ Category
Do YOU Long for the Law?
I have on occasion been called legalistic, a pharisee, and even a heretic. I am not; being one who is passionate about the law of the Lord, striving to live a holy lifestyle, and having an expectation that others who claim to be followers of Christ to live according to his WORD does not a legalistic pharisee or heretic make. If you are a Christian, do you love the law of God? Do you long for the law of God? Do you want his governance or your own, or even the governance of the world? These are things to think upon and evaluate.
I want to share this short devotion on the matter………………
Longing for God’s Law
by R.C. SproulA survey by George Gallup Jr. revealed a startling trend in our culture. According to Gallup, the evidence seems to indicate that there are no clear behavioral patterns that distinguish Christians from non-Christians in our society. We all seem to be marching to the same drummer, looking to the shifting standards of contemporary culture for the basis of what is acceptable conduct. What everybody else is doing seems to be our only ethical norm.This pattern can emerge only in a society or a church wherein the law of God is eclipsed. The very word law seems to have an unpleasant ring to it in our evangelical circles.
Let’s try an experiment. Read the passages from Psalm 119 that accompany this devotion. Try to crawl into the skin of the writer and experience empathy. Try to feel what he felt when he wrote these lines thousands of years ago.
Does this sound like a modern Christian? Do we hear people talk about longing passionately for the law of God? Do we hear our friends expressing joy and delight in God’s commandments?
Coram Deo: Do you long passionately for God’s law? Do you express joy and delight in His commandments?
Psalm 119:97: “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.”
Psalm 119:11-12: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You! Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes!”
Psalm 119:131: “I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for Your commandments.”
It is one thing to say we love the word of the Lord but if our lives trend after that of the world our words mean nothing. This evaluation of our life and our longing for the law of God can indeed wane. Sadly enough, I have often found myself saying I love the law of the Lord but finding that my life at the time was not displaying that statement to be true. I must repent and pray for that passionate longing to return! I must be obedient to seek after God, & his word, & his truth.
I want to end this post with one of my favorite hymns. It is one many have not heard and many would cringe when trying to sing. BUT it is one that I love because it reminds me to long for and to love the law of God.
I have posted this hymn on my blog before but I want to share it once again.
Most Perfect is the Law of God
From Psalm 19:7-11 and Psalm 119:97Most perfect is the law of God, Restoring those that stray;
His testimony is most sure, Proclaiming wisdom’s way.O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.The precepts of the Lord are right; With joy they fill the heart;
The Lord’s commandments all are pure, And clearest light impart.O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.The fear of God is undefiled And ever shall endure;
The statutes of the Lord are truth And righteousness most pure.O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.They warn from ways of wickedness Displeasing to the Lord,
And in the keeping of his Word There is a great reward.O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
A God of Balance
Often people have a disproportionate view of God. Some focus on his love, mercy, and grace while neglecting his justice and wrath. Others Focus on his justice and wrath and neglect his love, mercy, and grace. We must seek to know God and all of his character or else we do not truly know him. God is glorified through all of his attributes! He is glorified in his grace and glorified in his display of justice. Even in his display of justice there is an element of his mercy and grace. Even when things are destroyed they are not utterly destroyed. When there remains a remnant there is mercy and grace! Praise be to God!
Psalm 136 is a beautiful portrait of this.
136:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,for his steadfast love endures forever;4 to him who alone does great wonders,for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters,for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights,for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,for his steadfast love endures forever;10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them,for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two,for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it,for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness,for his steadfast love endures forever;17 to him who struck down great kings,for his steadfast love endures forever;
18 and killed mighty kings,for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan,for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage,for his steadfast love endures forever;
22 a heritage to Israel his servant,for his steadfast love endures forever.23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes,for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh,for his steadfast love endures forever.26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,for his steadfast love endures forever.
Most Perfect is the Law of God
From Psalm 19:7-11 and Psalm 119:97
Most perfect is the law of God, Restoring those that stray;
His testimony is most sure, Proclaiming wisdom’s way.
O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
The precepts of the Lord are right; With joy they fill the heart;
The Lord’s commandments all are pure, And clearest light impart.
O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
The fear of God is undefiled And ever shall endure;
The statutes of the Lord are truth And righteousness most pure.
O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
They warn from ways of wickedness Displeasing to the Lord,
And in the keeping of his Word There is a great reward.
O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
O how love I thy law! O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
To participate in the Saturday Psalm & Praise just follow the link.
Down to the River to Pray
As I went down in the river to pray, studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown, good Lord, show me the way
Oh sisters let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down
Oh sisters let’s go down, down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray, studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the robe and crown, good Lord, show me the way
Oh brothers let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down
Come on brothers let’s go down, down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray, studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown, good Lord, show me the way
Oh fathers let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down
Oh fathers let’s go down, down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray, studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the robe and crown, good Lord, show me the way
Oh mothers let’s go down, come on down, don’t you wanna go down
Come on mothers let’s go down, down in the river to pray
Down in the river to pray, studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown, good Lord, show me the way
Oh sinners let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down
Oh sinners let’s go down, down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray, studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the robe and crown, good Lord, show me the way
To participate in the Saturday Psalm & Praise just follow the link.
Blessed Assurance
John 20:31
but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Blessèd assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long.
Perfect submission, all is at rest I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long.
Words: Fanny Crosby (1873)
