A Common Conundrum

Reading:  Psalm 119:1-88; 1 Thess. 5

            When I was just a child and learning to walk, I was exploring the house as if I’d never seen it before.  I had to touch every little thing, often bringing a lamp or picture frame down to the ground with a crash.  One day I found the motherload—the button covered, knob spotted, flashing light, tower of technology—the home stereo system.  It was also one of the most expensive items in the house.  Thus, mom watched me carefully while I gazed at the gigantic gadget.  When I decided to go in for the touch, my mother was right there to slap my hand away.  But I was a determined little boy…I reached for it again…SLAP!  Denied again.  Another try and I began to equate the stinging feeling with my touching attempts.  But did that stop me?  Nooo… I closed my eyes, turned my head away, anticipating the slap, and reached out again…

            We as human beings often know what is wrong for us to do, yet we do it anyway.  It’s the same conundrum Paul encountered in Romans 7:15 when he said, “what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do anyway.”  We all, like Paul, have done what we know is wrong, or harmful, or stupid.  There seems to be something deep down inside each of us, like that little boy in front of the stereo, that wants to go against the rules.  We might call it a rebellious streak, or just plain disobedience, but each of us has experienced it.  We just don’t like living by the law, it’s too restrictive, too harsh, too “Old Testament, bro.”

            What would it take for you to love, and I mean REALLY LOVE God’s commandments?  Would the all-knowing God have to change them to fit into your idea of right and wrong?  Or would it take a change of your heart, a change of my heart?  For nearly eighty verses, the author of Psalm 119 asks the Lord to give him that change of heart.  He says repeatedly things like, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law,” I have put my hope in your word,” and “I delight in your commands because I love them.”  Wow!  What would it take for us to have this kind of attitude?

            My challenge to you today is this:  Fall in love again with the Word of God.  Meditate on it day and night.  Chew on it until its flavor revitalizes you.  Search it like there’s gold in every word.  Soak in it like a warm bath after a day in the snow.  Drink it up like your life depends on it.  Why?  Because it does.  And as you do, as you fall deeper and deeper in love with the Word, you will fall deeper in love with the Word-Giver.  Then you will find yourself saying like the Psalmist, “I have put my hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:81b).

 

Finally, I leave you with the words of Paul from today’s New Testament reading:

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.

May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!

– 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24. (Message)