Read Psalm 19:7-14. 7The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. 10More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 13Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. 14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
For as awe inspiring as the heavens are they are simply not enough to teach us everything we need to know about God. So God gave us not only the truth revealed in nature, but also the greater truths revealed in his word. Greater truths about himself and how we are to relate to him.
In Psalm 19 God’s law is all of scripture. All of scripture tells the story of God’s pursuit of sinful man. God’s love for us is on full display on each page. Whether it’s God’s testimony about himself, his command in a certain situation, or his ruling in a specific case, we turn to the Torah to see God revealed to us, and thus to be revived, wise, happy, enlightened, and pure.
Have you discovered the great reward of living by God’s word? Is it gold to you? Is it honey to your lips?
But what is the great reward of knowing God through scripture? The reward is two-fold. First, it reveals our errors, our hidden faults (not hidden because they are so small but because they are so habitually a part of our life), and our presumptuous sins (the ones we know are wrong but…oh well). The second reward is that we aren’t left to deal with our own revealed sin. To know God in Christ is not to know our sin condemning judge, but to know our rock and our redeemer. To know God in Christ is not to relate to God as blatant sinner but as his blameless servant.
To live is Christ is to not only see Christ in God’s word, but to be transformed by the living Law of God (Jesus) as one who is free from the dominion of sin and shares the heart of God in the world today.
You: Have you discovered the great reward of living by God’s word?
You in Christ: How does understanding your union with Christ change how you read the Bible?
Christ in you: Are you letting the Living Word live through you?
Pray: Father, through your word reveal my sin and reveal my Savior. Amen.
To Live is Christ 