This is the second and last devotion in the Delight in the Law of the Lord series. In the previous devotion, we discussed that we are called to delight in law of the Lord. In this devotion, we will explore the benefits we receive for doing that.
Nuggets
- The “… tree planted by the streams of water ….” (Ps. 1: 3 ESV) reminds me of the tree of life but the river of the water of life in Heaven.
- Faithfully obeying the laws of the Lord will result in eternal life.
- God will grant success to those who delight in the law.
- God knows His children.
Devotions in Delight in the Law of the Lord series
In the last devotion, we discussed that the worldview is that God’s laws are not relevant in the world today. The Bible, however, tells us that we should “… delight in the law of the Lord …” (Ps. 1: 2 ESV). Doing that reaps benefits.
Tree Planted by the Stream
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 (Ps. 1: 3 ESV)
Okay, when I first read this, my thoughts went straight to Revelation 22: 1-2. “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations” (Rev. 22: 1-2 ESV).
It is especially appropriate to our topic when we add in Revelation 22: 14. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Rev. 22: 14 KJV).
Those who delight in and keep God’s laws have the right to the tree of life, that is on either side of the river of the water of life. It is in Heaven, where its leaves will never wither.
Heaven is the reward for admitting we are sinners, believing that Jesus is our Redeemer, and confessing God as our Sovereign Lord. It is the reward for delighting in the law, meditating on it 24/7/365, and demonstrating that commitment by living a life that is pleasing to God.
The ABCDs of Salvation
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the
Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
The Disciple’s Job Description
He Prospers
We won’t have to wait until we get to Heaven to prosper. “Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the LORD gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged” (I Chron. 22: 13 NIV).
Another way we prosper is that we are given a longer life. “Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for all time” (Deut. 4: 40 ESV).
God Knows
God knows who His children are because we keep His commandments. “Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us” (I Jn. 3: 24 ESV).
Jesus said something similar. “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him” (Jn. 14: 21 ESV).
God knows because keeping His commandments is an outward expression of that love. That is how we show we love God.
Making the Connections
The law itself doesn’t save us. It can’t because we would never be able to keep it fully. We would always be breaking it.
Believing Jesus is the Messiah Who died to pay the price for our sins saves us. By obeying God’s laws, we show a changed life. It is how we are a doer. “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves” (Jas. 1: 22 NLT). What it says for us to do is to obey God’s laws.
We can do this because God will help us. “And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules” (Ezek. 36: 27 ESV). The Holy Spirit is to be our helper. He will help us keep God’s laws.
Let’s say that another way, to make sure we get it. The only way we can keep God’s laws and commandments is with God’s help. On our own, we break them.
John 8: 31 is interesting. Jesus said, “… If you abide in my word, you are truly My disciples” (ESV). His Word states we must follow His laws. Abide in Scriptures, as well as meaning staying put, means to conform to the rules.
That means that we can’t just make a profession of faith, not change our lives, and expect that to be hunky-dory. That is not fine.
How Do We Apply This?
I love Psalm 119: 10. “With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!” (Ps. 119: 10 ESV). We have to seek God, but we also have to listen to Him. It is a choice we make (Ps. 119: 30).
We need to study and meditate on God’s laws. We need to “keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people’” (Deut. 4: 6 ESV). Others are watching us. Part of our testimony is how we live our lives according to God’s laws.
But others don’t see us reading God’s law. They see us doing God’s laws. Remember, James 1: 22 said we had to be doers.
Being doers has its benefits. James 1: 25 says, “But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing” (ESV).
We need to have the discipline to hear, read, study, meditate, and memorize God’s Word. Discipline also help us do what we are called to do. This is how we seek God.
Searching for and Seeking God
Hearing His Word (Rom. 10: 17).
Reading His Word (Rev. 1: 3).
Praying to Him (Heb. 4: 16).
Studying His Word (Ac. 17: 11).
Meditating on His Word (Ps. 1: 1-2).
Memorizing His Word (Ps. 119: 11).
What we are called to do is the works James was talking about. “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2: 17-18 RSV). I think the works are the actions we do to keep the law.
For example, loving everyone as our neighbor is one of God’s laws. How we keep that law constitutes our works.
We may think our works is helping the homeless or the mentally ill. That may be our actions, but in reality, we are loving our neighbor. I guess what I am saying is we tend to focus on our project rather than what law we are keeping.
We are called to keep God’s laws. We are to delight in doing that. In doing so, God will reward us.
Gracious Heavenly Father. By keeping Your laws, we live the life that You have called us to live. Thank You for the Holy Spirit as a Guide to help us to keep Your Laws. We pray that we keep Your laws and, in doing so, show others the benefit of living for You. Amen.
What do you think? Are the benefits listed attractive to you? Do they make you want to follow God’s laws?
Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.
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