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Psalm 112:1 (NKJV)
Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments.
In the above verse, the Psalmist pointed out two truths.
First, we are blessed – made happy – by virtue of our fear of the Lord. We should be happy to surrender to God’s Sovereignty. Not only because God is Sovereign over all, but because we ourselves willingly accept God as the authority over our lives.
Second, we are blessed because we take delight in obeying God’s Word. And we do not just obey God’s Word because we are commanded to do so, we find great joy in living as God commands. Psalm 119:35 (NKJV) tells us: Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it.
It would be so easy if life were such that we could just live fearing the Lord and obeying God’s Word without opposition. But the truth is, we live in a fallen world. A world that, at every turn, seeks to pull us away from living lives in reverence and honor to God. A world that seeks to pull us away from living lives obeying God’s Word.
1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) states: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
The devil is cunning. On our own, we are simply not equipped to resist all his schemes and strategies.
The key is to have a heart that is devoted – set apart – to God. When we have this heart posture, it is harder for us to fall prey to anything that seeks to pull our love and affection away from God. When our heart is devoted to God, while we may be tempted, we stand against the temptation to go our own way because we truly want to obey God and follow the path that God has set for us. David said in Psalm 16:11 (NKJV): You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
We simply cannot say we love God and yet do not do as God commands. Consider John 14:15 (NKJV) where Jesus told the disciples: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Jesus was clear that love for God and doing as God commands go hand in hand.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we must fear God.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we must love God deeply.
And as followers of Jesus Christ, we must do what God commands.
Isaiah 26:8 (NIV) states: Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.
Except where indicated, scripture references are from the American Standard Version (ASV), Darby Translation (DARBY), or King James Version (KJV) – all public domains.
