Obedience=Freedom

This morning I read all the way through Psalm 119. Yes, it is very long-176 verses to be exact, but the whole passage mesmerized me.  I don't know if I've ever found a passage to be more intriguing. There are a couple verses that I want to highlight that really jumped out at me; though, I cannot begin to show exactly what I felt/feel about these words. 

Psalm 119 is the psalm where it mentions hiding God's Word in my so that I don't sin against God (v.11).  It is very important to know what our instruction manual, ie. Holy Bible, says so that we know how we are supposed to live and so that we don't get caught up in the subtle lies of the world we live in.  But memorizing scripture can be a hard thing to do, and, if I'm honest, anything with the word memorize does not sound like fun, and yet the psalmist asks, more like begs God to teach him His law so that he can hide it in his heart, meditate on it, rejoice in following it, delight in it and more. 

"Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in you law(v.18)...My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times (v.20)...I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free (v.32)."

Such passion, such longing for just the Words of God and his commands.  Do I truly have that passion for the law of the LORD?  I desperately want it, but how?

"Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees;
   then I will keep them to the end.
Give me understanding, and I will keep your law
   and obey it with all my heart.
Direct me in the path of your commands,
   for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes    and not toward selfish gain.
Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
   preserve my life according to your word.^[a]
Fulfill your promise to your servant,
   so that you may be feared.
Take away the disgrace I dread,
   for your laws are good.
How I long for your precepts!
   Preserve my life in your righteousness."  (v. 33-40)

That's how.  It's a love that's God given. I can't find it on my own.  it's a daily strive. "This has been my practice: I obey your precepts" (v.56)

"to all perfection I see a limit; but your commands are boundless (v. 96)" ...try wrapping your mind around that one.

or how about this: "if your law had not been my delight, i would have perished in my affliction (v. 92)...Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble (v.165).  A love for God's word can uphold you even in the darkest of times.  why? Because God's word, his law, his promises, and everything that proceeds from his mouth is firm. It's eternal. (v. 75-76, 89-91).

Here's one that really hits home..."though i constantly take my life in my hands [yep that's me, always wanting to have control] I will not forget your law...your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart." (v.109 &111)  even when i take over the reigns, God and his word still remains unchanged.  They are the source of my joy.

And then there's obedience.  For many, it's a word that brings dread.  But it shouldn't when it comes to obeying God.  I should WANT to obey Him. It should flow from my LOVE for Him.  "Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them (v. 129)...I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands (v.131)...I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly (v.167)."  This sounds a bit extreme...or does it?  With a deep desire for God and his words, like this psalm says over and over again,  it's only natural to want to follow, to WANT to OBEY.  

"But I thought there is freedom in Christ," you say, "isn't putting obey and freedom in the same sentence an oxymoron?"  No, I don't believe so. And the psalmist didn't think so either, for he said in verse 44-45, "I will always obey your law, for ever and ever. I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts." God's commands are not given to us to squash our fun.  Oh no.  They are given to us so that we can be able to live our lives to their fullest potential.  We can live a life completely free, free of regrets, free of guilt and shame, free of fear, and free of anything that can hold us back from the life God has to offer.  Freedom and obedience can truly go hand in hand.  Why would you or I want to live our lives any other way?  That's a choice we all have to make.   Is God worth it...I believe so.  God, help me follow you with complete and utter abandon...to obey You so I can truly be free.

That's all I have. thanks for bearing with me as I walked myself through this long passage.  I've got a lot to think about, and I hope you do as well.