Learning to Love the Law
Psalm 19:7-14. It starts like this: ‘The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple…’ As I was mulling this over in my mind, this thought occurred to me: ‘IT’S ALL TRUE! And it’s counterintuitive!! It’s the opposite of what you think it should be- you think you’ll be happier if you’re free to do whatever you want (or to be more specific, whatever WRONG thing you want. Usually out of selfishness, greed, or lust.) But it’s the law of the Lord that gives you freedom, makes you wise, gives you joy and understanding. The boundaries God gives are for my good and the good of others. And in keeping God’s law there is GREAT reward. Not just mildly rewarding, like a pleasant feeling of good, but GREAT reward! I am so much happier now than when I was walking in sin. Back then, there were moments that were pleasurable, but overall, pervasive anxiety. I was sick to my stomach a lot, and believing lie after lie, getting more and more entangled in a mess. But now that I truly want to know God and to know what He thinks, I am realizing a couple of things:
1. God is good. He really is! And I FINALLY believe that. I used to mistrust His motives because I didn’t really know Him. And it’s only in getting to know Him through His word, that I have begun to see his heart for me and to love Him with all of mine.
2. He made me. And He makes beautiful things! I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am an amazing creation, and it’s a privilege to be able to honor the One who created me.
3. His law is good! And it’s pleasant. It’s all about love: ‘Owe nothing to anyone- except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These- and other such commandments- are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.’ Romans 13:8-10. The way God wants me to treat others is the same as He wants them to treat me! How kind.
4. It’s not too late for me to be wise. Walking away from God like I did makes one foolish, and then you do dumb things. But like the prodigal son, it’s not too late to come back to God. And by learning what God thinks and finding out what pleases the Lord (Ephesians 4:8-10), well, this is not impossible, and God wants to reveal Himself to us: He forgives, He restores, and He wants a relationship with us. We can be wise again by loving and walking according to His truth.
5. We’re sinners. Some sins are bigger than others and some of my sins were massive. But that doesn’t matter to God, because any sin separates us from God. The only good thing about a big sin is that it makes you a million times more thankful for the kindness of your Savior. In Jesus’ own words from Luke 4:42: ‘Who will love Him more?’ the answer: ‘I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.’ Jesus: ‘You have judged correctly.’ I love this because I am the one who had a huge debt canceled, and now I am in the process of getting to know God again.
So, this is my prayer (from Ps 19:12-13):
‘Lord, I don’t know my heart like you do, so please forgive my hidden faults and keep me also from willful sins! May they not rule over me! And may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
