Opening Prayer: Lord God, I have memorized and placed Your Word in my heart. I am learning to practice it in my life. My goal is to use it to remain obedient to You. How blessed and wonderful are Your decrees. Your words bring love and hope to my life. I long to be Your servant and with my lips present the assurance that comes from Your Word (Adopted from Psalm 119:10-13). In Jesus’ name, and with His power. Amen!
Today’s Bible Verse: Psalm 119:45-49
I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, for I delight in your commands because I love them. I lift my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees. Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.
Associated Verses:
In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1).
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).
So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17, NKJV).
Correlative Quotes:
The Psalmist sets his subject in many lights and treats of it in divers ways, but he seldom omits to mention the word of the Lord in each verse under someone or other of the many names by which he knows it; and even if the name be not there, the subject is still heartily pursued in every stanza. He who wrote this wonderful song was saturated with those books of Scripture which he possessed.[1] – Charles Spurgeon
When the Bible says that a man led by the Spirit is not under the law, it does not mean that he is free because he may sin without being punished for it, but it means that he is free because being taught by God's Spirit to love what his law commands he is no longer conscious of acting from restraint..[2] – Frederick William Robertson
In these words, he seems to believe that he has that which he formerly prayed for. He had said," Take not the word of truth out of my mouth," and now, as if he had obtained what he requested, he rises, and maintains that he would not be dumb (silent).[3] – John Calvin.
Author’s Notes:
INTRODUCTION
God’s Word is His bond. It gives the believer hope both now and in the future (Psalm 119:81). His Word provides grace in any circumstance (2 Corinthians 9:8). It eases the pain of this world and prepares us for eternity (Psalm 34:18). The more time we spend in the Word, the clearer and more challenging it becomes. The Word of God is complete. New insights provided by the Spirit meet our next level of spiritual growth (Hebrews 6:1). Most importantly, God’s Word frees us from sin and shame (2 Corinthians 3:17). It liberates us to live and enjoy the abundant life in Christ (John 10:10).
SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD (Hebrews 4:12)
When we seek God, He will find us. God is truth. When we pursue spiritual reality, we will find it in His Word. It is God’s veracity that sets us free from sin and death. When we practice His Word in our lives, we “walk in freedom,” God’s liberty.
When we are freed from the shackles of sin, it allows us the courage to speak of and for God. We can then take a stand for righteousness regardless of the situation or our audience. Freedom of speech is different from freedom to speak. As faithful believers, we now have the opportunity to participate in both.
We fall in love with God’s Word when we internalize it. Recently I heard a pastor explaining how important it is to embody God’s Message. With the congregation engaged, he began to sing “ABCDEFG” and they followed with “HIJKLMNOP”. “How do you know that,” he challenged. “You know it because you sang it over and over as a child until it comes out naturally. That is the way we should know God’s word.”
Meditation is the key to a conversation with God. Over the centuries, meditation for Christians has received a bad rap. Meditation is associated primarily with the eastern religions and it involves repetition of phrases. Mantras, whether repeated in silence or spoken out loud, are designed to separate a person’s mind from the painful or distracting reality around them and to replace it with a more calming thought. Matthew 6:7 warns: And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Since eastern chanting and meditation replace God and focus on self, Christians have shied away from using it. However, aside from the repetition of mantras, spending time in prayer, and God’s word alone, in meditation, will always be helpful to a believer.
God’s word is the anchor holding us together, and giving us unlimited hope for the future. Romans 15:13 provides this promise: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Spiritual Application:
God is always there for us (1 John 1:7). When we walk in His Word, the Spirit frees us from the shackles of disobedience and directs us in the Father’s pathway. His Word trains us to be more like Jesus. God frees us to love and be loved. His Word enables us to see, practice, and reap the rewards of unconditional love. Holy is the Father’s Word. The Spirit’s commands are satisfying, liberating us from the intensity of societal pressures. This world is not our home.
Lessons within the Lesson:
Do you feel free? Read Romans 12:1-2.
What is God’s promise for our lives? Read John 10:10.
What is God’s requirement for fellowship? Read 1 John 1:7.
How do we sustain that fellowship? Read 1 John 1:9).
[1] Charles Spurgeon, Psalm 119:45-49, Treasury of David, Vol. V, Public Domain, Marshall Brothers, Ltd. Publishers London, Edinburgh and New York, P. 130-1.
[2] Frederick William Robertson, Psalm 119:45-49, Treasury of David, Vol. V, Public Domain, Marshall Brothers, Ltd. Publishers London, Edinburgh and New York, P. 234-35.
[3] John Calvin, Psalm 119:45-49, Treasury of David, Vol. V. Ibid., P 235.