Overcoming the lethargy of those poor souls content with skipping the spiritual therapy of studying the Word of God, we take up the challenge of embracing 14 qualities of a thriving soul who loves and abounds in the Word, Law, Statutes, Precepts, Testimonies, and Judgments of the LORD.
I closed the preceding devotion with the first principle for spiritual growth found in our focus passage, Psalm 119:129-144— Be passionate: The testimonies of the LORD are “wonderful” (119:129a).
Psalm 119:129 – Thy testimonies [witness; admonitions; ordinances] are wonderful [marvelous; astonishing]: therefore doth my soul keep them.
The testimonies, admonitions and ordinances of the LORD are wonderful in simplicity. One of the great tragedies of our day is society’s assault on childhood innocence. Liberal educators, politicians, advertisers, and public media have long recognized the ease of indoctrinating children in opposition to family values and apart from their parent’s knowledge. The innocence and trust of a young child is a trait of childhood the wicked use to indoctrinate youth in the way of sin; however, it is also that same quality Christ used as a model of saving faith in Matthew 18:1-6.
Not only are the testimonies of the LORD wonderful in simplicity, they are also wonderful in message…the Gospel of Salvation. What a wonderful and profound truth we find in John 3 when Christ told Nicodemus:
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The testimonies of the LORD are wonderful in Truth. Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, weighed the dilemma what he would do with an innocent man, but one whom the Jewish religious leaders of the day demanded nothing less than His death. Interrogating the Lord, Pilate asked Christ, “Art thou King of the Jews?” (John 18:33) Stating His kingdom was “not of this world”, Jesus assured Pilate His mission was to “bear witness unto the truth” (John 18:37). Pilate astutely asked, “What is truth?”; however, there is no indication the governor waited to hear the answer to his question. Instead, declaring Christ innocent, Pilate committed the greatest travesty of judgment in the history of man and sentenced Jesus to die on the cross in place of Barabbas, a notorious sinner. What is truth, you ask? The Word of God is Truth (John 17:17)!
Fourthly, the testimonies of the LORD are wonderful in instruction: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Realizing the wonder of the testimonies of the LORD, no wonder our second principle for the victorious life is: Be obedient: Keep God’s testimonies (119:129b).
Psalm 119:129 – Thy testimonies [witness; admonitions; ordinances] are wonderful [marvelous; astonishing]: therefore doth my soul [life; person] keep [preserve; guard] them.
The psalmist not only loved the testimonies of the LORD, he obeyed them! Is that principle a guiding truth for your life? If you want to live a spiritually victorious life, I challenge you to follow James’ exhortation and “be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22).
Copyright 2016 – Travis D. Smith