Post by Cindy on Jun 14, 2015 6:08:07 GMT -5
Psalm 119 is only one of many passages on the transforming power of God’s Word. Consider some of the characteristics that can be manifest in believers’ lives when they fill their inner beings with biblical principles.
• Their lives are obedient to the Lord: “Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.” (Psalm 119:2–4)
• Their lives are full of praise: “I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.” (Psalm 119:7)
• Their lives are characterized as pure: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.” (Psalm 119:9)
• They have victory over sin: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)
• They enjoy obeying the Lord: “I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” (Psalm 119:16)
• They receive direct counsel from the Word: “Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.” (Psalm 119:24)
• They are refreshed and strengthened by the Word: “My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.” (Psalm 119:28)
• They are people of integrity: “I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.” (Psalm 119:30)
• They experience inner freedom: “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” (Psalm 119:45)
• They become unselfish: “Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.” (Psalm 119:36)
• They turn away from worthless and destructive practices and philosophies: “Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.” (Psalm 119:37)
• They have hope: “Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws.” (Psalm 119:43)
“Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.” (Psalm 119:49)
• They experience comfort in the midst of suffering: “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” (Psalm 119:50) “I remember your ancient laws, O LORD, and I find comfort in them.” (Psalm 119:52)
• They develop good judgment: “Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands.” (Psalm 119:66)
• Their hearts are sensitive: “Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law.” (Psalm 119:70)
• They have eternal values: “The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.” (Psalm 119:72)
• They develop wisdom: “Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.” (Psalm 119:98–100)
• They find guidance: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
• They have an aversion for evil: “and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.” (Psalm 119:128)
• They understand deep truths: “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130)
• They sorrow over the sinfulness of the world: “Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.” (Psalm 119:136)
• They experience joy in the midst of trouble: “Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight.” (Psalm 119:143)
• They become people of prayer: “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:147)
• They remain true to God even through persecution: “Many are the foes who persecute me, but I have not turned from your statutes.” (Psalm 119:157)
• They have peace and stability: “Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” (Psalm 119:165)
• They receive help from God: “May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.” (Psalm 119:173).
And these promises are from one psalm alone! They are promises for every child of God who will seek His truth, regardless of how serious our problems are. They are promises for me. They are promises for you. Go back and note all the characteristics of mental health that are related to the Scriptures. How dare psychologists tell us that the Scriptures are deficient in ways that only modern psychology can supply! The Bible provides all the necessary information for “training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Thoroughly equipped. Instruction in righteousness is the maintenance program for spiritual and mental health.
Too many Christians mistakenly believe that they can experience “maintenance-free” spirituality; that it comes without choice, effort, or discipline. The truth is that it requires daily submission of our wills to the Lord by feeding on His Word to sustain the transformed life. There really is no mystery to this process; it just seems like too much work. We would rather depend upon a radio preacher or televangelist for our spiritual food. We would rather warm our hearts with contemporary music than the cleansing coals of God’s Word. We would rather pick up the newspaper than the Bible. We would rather play than pray. We want excuses instead of exhortation. We want man’s theories instead of God’s truth. We want comfort rather than conviction. We want to be entertained more than we want holiness. We want self-esteem instead of self-denial. But instruction in righteousness requires us to turn back to God and His Word.
There you have it—four steps in a biblical method for permanent change: doctrinal teaching, acceptance of rebuke, correction of wrong patterns of thinking and acting by putting off the old nature, and building up the new nature through instruction in righteousness.
Bulkley, E. (1993). Why Christians can’t trust psychology (325).
• Their lives are obedient to the Lord: “Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.” (Psalm 119:2–4)
• Their lives are full of praise: “I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.” (Psalm 119:7)
• Their lives are characterized as pure: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.” (Psalm 119:9)
• They have victory over sin: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)
• They enjoy obeying the Lord: “I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” (Psalm 119:16)
• They receive direct counsel from the Word: “Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.” (Psalm 119:24)
• They are refreshed and strengthened by the Word: “My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.” (Psalm 119:28)
• They are people of integrity: “I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.” (Psalm 119:30)
• They experience inner freedom: “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” (Psalm 119:45)
• They become unselfish: “Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.” (Psalm 119:36)
• They turn away from worthless and destructive practices and philosophies: “Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.” (Psalm 119:37)
• They have hope: “Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws.” (Psalm 119:43)
“Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.” (Psalm 119:49)
• They experience comfort in the midst of suffering: “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” (Psalm 119:50) “I remember your ancient laws, O LORD, and I find comfort in them.” (Psalm 119:52)
• They develop good judgment: “Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands.” (Psalm 119:66)
• Their hearts are sensitive: “Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law.” (Psalm 119:70)
• They have eternal values: “The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.” (Psalm 119:72)
• They develop wisdom: “Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.” (Psalm 119:98–100)
• They find guidance: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
• They have an aversion for evil: “and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.” (Psalm 119:128)
• They understand deep truths: “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130)
• They sorrow over the sinfulness of the world: “Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.” (Psalm 119:136)
• They experience joy in the midst of trouble: “Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight.” (Psalm 119:143)
• They become people of prayer: “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:147)
• They remain true to God even through persecution: “Many are the foes who persecute me, but I have not turned from your statutes.” (Psalm 119:157)
• They have peace and stability: “Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” (Psalm 119:165)
• They receive help from God: “May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.” (Psalm 119:173).
And these promises are from one psalm alone! They are promises for every child of God who will seek His truth, regardless of how serious our problems are. They are promises for me. They are promises for you. Go back and note all the characteristics of mental health that are related to the Scriptures. How dare psychologists tell us that the Scriptures are deficient in ways that only modern psychology can supply! The Bible provides all the necessary information for “training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Thoroughly equipped. Instruction in righteousness is the maintenance program for spiritual and mental health.
Too many Christians mistakenly believe that they can experience “maintenance-free” spirituality; that it comes without choice, effort, or discipline. The truth is that it requires daily submission of our wills to the Lord by feeding on His Word to sustain the transformed life. There really is no mystery to this process; it just seems like too much work. We would rather depend upon a radio preacher or televangelist for our spiritual food. We would rather warm our hearts with contemporary music than the cleansing coals of God’s Word. We would rather pick up the newspaper than the Bible. We would rather play than pray. We want excuses instead of exhortation. We want man’s theories instead of God’s truth. We want comfort rather than conviction. We want to be entertained more than we want holiness. We want self-esteem instead of self-denial. But instruction in righteousness requires us to turn back to God and His Word.
There you have it—four steps in a biblical method for permanent change: doctrinal teaching, acceptance of rebuke, correction of wrong patterns of thinking and acting by putting off the old nature, and building up the new nature through instruction in righteousness.
Bulkley, E. (1993). Why Christians can’t trust psychology (325).
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