Delight in God's Word (Psalm 1:2)

Today's scripture: Psalm 1:2

Yesterday, we looked at what the man (or woman) who is blessed by God shouldn’t do. Today, we look at what we should do.

We should "delight ... in the law of the Lord." One’s delight is what “brings a high degree of gratification or extreme satisfaction.” It is “something that gives great pleasure” (Mirriam-Webster Dictionary). When we delight in God’s word, we “take great pleasure” in His commandments and promises. We revel in those scriptures that encourage and affirm, and we strive to live by those passages that convict and exhort.

And how do we find great pleasure in God’s word? We study it. We learn from it. Indeed, we meditate on it “day and night.”

You know what “day and night” means to me? And even as I write these words, I’m feeling very convicted. It’s certainly more than reading a verse now and again. It’s even more than reading a bit of scripture every day.

“Day and night” means something more. It means regularly and consistently spending time interacting with the words God inspired. It means studying them, pondering them. Praying over them.

I believe with all my heart that God wants to speak to His children, and one of the ways He does so is through His written word. He longs to bless us, but to receive the blessing of hearing His voice through the Bible, we must spend time in it.

Delighting in it. Day and night.

How to Love Jesus (John 14:18-24)

Today's scripture: John 14:18-24

How do you show you love someone? Bring them gifts? Compliment them? Want to be with them? Say the words?

How do you know someone loves you?

Jesus tells us how He knows we love Him: If we love Him, we will keep His commandments. What exactly did Jesus command?

Commandments abound throughout the Old Testament. We certainly know the Ten Commandments: we're to love our God, not have idols, not take His name in vain; we're not to murder or commit adultery or covet (see Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:1-21). The book of Leviticus is full of commandments, and other Old Testament books (Joshua, Judges, the prophets) all tell us of God's expectations for His children.

The New Testament also tells us how we're supposed to behave as children of God. Letters from Paul, Peter, and John offer a plethora of commandments.

I'm certain Jesus wanted His followers to follow biblical commandments, but what did He command? He seemed to focus on those commandments that require love and service. When asked what the greatest commandment was, He answered clearly and concisely: Love God; love others (Mark12:29-31). When Peter said he loved Jesus, Jesus' said Peter could show love by caring for others (John 21:15-17). Jesus Himself demonstrated His love by serving, especially when He washed His disciples' feet. What was His command then? His disciples were to serve as He did (John 13:14); we who follow Him should serve this way as well.

So ... Jesus said that whoever loves Him keeps His commandments. This is a litmus test for us. Do we faithfully keep the Ten Commandments, but malign our neighbor? Do we keep the letter of the law, but neglect the needs of others?

If we truly love Jesus, we will do as He did. We will love God with all we are, and we will love those around us. We will serve however we're needed. We will help the "least of these" (Matthew 25:31-46). We will be the light of Jesus in a very dark world.

Is that how you love Him?

Asking and Receiving (John 14:7-15)

Today's scripture: John 14:7-15

We've often talked about how Jesus claimed His divinity. He stated clearly that He and the Father are one. These verses also confirm this. But that's not what I want to focus on today.

Verses 13-14 give promises that I believe are often taken out of context, both in this passage and throughout the Bible. Jesus states, "Ask, and I will do whatever you ask ... I will do whatever you ask me to do" (John 14:13-14, CEV). So, people say, "Okay, Jesus. I ask for this or for that." Then they don't get what they ask for, and they say, "See Jesus isn't who He says He is. Either He doesn't exist, or He's a liar."

What they don't understand is what else the Bible says about our asking.

First, they can look at verse 15, where Jesus says, "If you love me, you will do as I command" (John 14:15, CEV). How many people really read God's word and follow Jesus' commandments? Do they really live as Jesus did? Do they avoid sin?

Second, elsewhere in the Bible, we're given more instructions about how we're to ask for anything. We need to "ask without any doubting" (James 1:5).

Most importantly, we need to ask for God's will. Later in James, we read we're to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that" (4:15).

God is a loving, caring, compassionate Father, and He loves to give His children good things (Matthew 7:11). He wants to give us the desires of our hearts. Two verses that many of us memorize (and I have to say, they are among my favorites) are Psalms 37:4-5. Again, however, we sometimes hone in on the promise but neglect the commands. Yes, God will give us the desires of our hearts, but we're to delight in Him, which means we're to find in Him our greatest joy. We're also to commit our ways to Him, which means we're to surrender everything to Him. Finally, we're to trust in Him, giving everything, including our own wills, to Him.

Yes, Jesus will answer our prayers. Yes, He will give us what we ask for. But only if follow His commandments, if we ask in God's will, if we delight in Him, if we surrender to Him, and if we trust Him to fulfill His purpose in and through us.