September 24th

SEPTEMBER 24th

Psalm 119:41-48 May your unfailing love come to me, Lord, your salvation, according to your promise; then I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in your word. Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws. I will always obey your law, for ever and ever. 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 reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees.

This passage repeats many of the truths found in the other passages we have read this week but we also see mentioned two additional things that the Word does for us. It gives us the wisdom to know how to answer anyone who taunts us and it brings freedom.

First, the Word brings us wisdom and that enables us to respond to those around us in a wise way rather than reacting in a worldly way. Jesus also stated that we should NOT be worried about what to say because the Holy Spirit would give us the words to speak. He said the Holy Spirit would remind us of the words of Jesus. So we need to have read the Word in order to be reminded, right?

Luke 12:11-12 When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 1for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.

John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

The Word brings freedom. This one we sometimes forget because we tend to think that the Word adds more “rules” and “don’ts” to our list. We have to step out of our human thinking into heavenly thinking. Here’s why, things are not as they appear. To humans, sin may be appealing and seem like freedom, freedom from rules, freedom to be whoever you want to be, freedom from labels or whatever else you don’t like. The problem with that is that it isn’t freedom, it is slavery. We become slaves to sin, empty inside at the end of the day and we miss out on becoming the person God created us to be and enjoying the most fulfilling life we could ever have. Satan disguises sin as freedom and then he has you trapped. Jesus died to set us free so we wouldn’t have to be slaves. The Word is Truth and Truth brings freedom.

John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Truth, the Word of God is at our fingertips, it is so easy for us to reach for and grow from, to learn and be set free. And it virtually costs us nothing and is easily available. So why do we neglect it? God set it in front of us and is giving us a choice…

Deuteronomy 30:11-16 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

Lord thank you for making your Word so readily available to me. Help me to pick it up every day. Help me to look to it everyday for wisdom and for freedom. I want to choose life not death and destruction. Help me to reach for You. Holy Spirit teach me from your Word today. Help me to choose You.