Delight in the Law

Psalm 1:2-3 ESV
but his delight is in the law of the Lord , and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY
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I used to call myself a Christian because I had grown up in church and I knew the basic facts of “the Christian religion”. But I definitely didn’t “delight in the law of the Lord” – in fact,  my life was proof that I delighted in all kinds of sin in my life. And I definitely didn’t meditate on his law day and night – in fact, I used what little I knew about grace as an excuse to stay far away from the law,  shrugging it off as “that old covenant stuff”, satisfied that I had my “get out of Hell free card” in my back pocket.

But you see,  I knew about religion – but my life was fruitless. There was no active relationship with a living God, there was no Holy Spirit guiding me,  teaching me, and comforting me.

It’s pretty scary when I look back and realize that I was blind to the blessings, I was veiled and stumbling in darkness. And it concerns me when I wonder how many that call themselves Christians are leading fruitless lives of their own. I wonder how many opportunities are being missed to share hope,  mercy,  love,  forgiveness, and all of the blessings of a Christ filled life with others.

What would the world look like if we lived like Christ? If we loved like Christ? If we put others needs ahead of our wants? If we genuinely cared about the lives of those around us – even those we will only meet once while passing through a restaurant or store.

Wouldn’t the world look a lot different than one group of religious folks complaining about what another religious group has wrong?

Wouldn’t the world look a lot different than a group of religious folks condemning and accusing and attacking others – even the rulers of their own nation that they are supposed to honor and pray for?

Wouldn’t the world look a lot different than a group of religious folks looking down their noses at others that don’t pray the way they do,  or sing the way they do,  or gather the way they do, or judge the way they do?

Yes, Jesus is alive and His Kingdom work is being done in the world today. He works through a living relationship, not dead religious practice –

Through Him we know that all of the Law and the words of the prophets hang on loving God and loving others. This is the voice of the Holy Spirit that teaches me to delight in the law,  to delight in Love, undeserved grace and mercy and forgiveness – and I meditate on it daily,  even moment to moment, as I try to keep my eyes on Christ in this new relationship with my risen Lord and Savior.

I don’t have time to check my own branches for fruit,  because there is much work to be done. The harvest is great,  but the workers are few.

So I hope that we will all do our work,  friends -that we will all share this love if we have it,  or go get it if we haven’t received it yet. I hope that each will be fruitful in their relationship, and that when the time comes, we will be proven as faithful servants.

I love you, friend. Have a blessed day.