Instruction books are often amusing, especially if they have been translated from another language. The nuance is not always right, or the instructions totally clear. The best instructions are given by those who designed the product in the first place. They know how to get the best out of the product, and the intricacies of its features.
9Young people can live
a clean life
by obeying your word.
10I worship you
with all my heart.
Don’t let me walk away
from your commands.
11I treasure your word
above all else;
it keeps me from sinning
against you.
12I praise you, LORD!
Teach me your laws.
13With my own mouth,
I tell others the laws
that you have spoken.
14Obeying your instructions
brings as much happiness
as being rich.
15I will study your teachings
and follow your footsteps.
16I will take pleasure
in your laws
and remember your words.
From this Psalm, it seems like the answer to every question is by knowing God’s word and sticking to it.
You want to live a good life – obey God’s word; you want to worship him – don’t walk away from his commands; want to keep from sinning – treasure God’s word; want to be happy – obey God’s laws.
This Psalmist realises that God’s word is the way to go, it is the way to discover the new thing he is going to do, so pleads with God to teach his laws.
God is the one who made life. It was his idea, his concept, his creation – so it stands to reason that he is the best person to tell us how to use it, how to get the most out of life, and reach our full potential.
Jesus life and message was soaked in the scriptures (Tom Wright p 114), that was what gave him the strength to do what he had to do.
How well do you know God’s word? Are you familiar with the instruction book? Are you using it to get the most from life and all that God offers? Do we spend enough time listening to God and hearing what he is wanting to say to us today? As lent continues – and when it is over, we have that opportunity, to spend some time with God, seeing what his word to us is. Let’s take that opportunity.
Lord,
may I spend time with your word.
Studying it,
learning from it,
feeding on it,
hearing from you.
May I realise that whatever the question,
the answer is to be found in you,
help me to listen and learn
This year, I am again following the BigRead using Tom Wright’s Lent for Everyone – Mark. I’ll reflect here – if you’re following it too, or even if you’re not, please share with me.
