Pearls of Opportunity ~ Psalm 119 Part 3
Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. (Psalm 119:17-20, KJV)
Welcome back to Part 3 of our journey in Psalm 119. If you have been walking through this passage with me, you know that so far we have learned to:
1. Walk with integrity and follow the instructions in God’s Word. May it be our desire to reflect His heart with our actions in our daily lives. ~Psalm 119:1-8
2. It is so important to hide God’s Word in our heart. We are better equipped to handle the enemy’s attacks when we have God’s Word hidden as a treasure within our hearts. I pray you have been reflecting on God’s desires for your life and considering how He would have you put them into action.
Today, we will take a step into Phase 3.
What are the wonderful things we can receive by following God’s law?
First, of all remember there is freedom when we live within God’s law. He created it as a loving father creates rules for a son or daughter. They do so to keep their children from danger. The Word of God has been given to us to help us see how best to live our lives for God. It is not a book of do’s and dont’s. God is not waiting for you to get something wrong, so He can come in and lecture you. No, He has given you His Word to learn how to live a life in full abundance because of the free will He has given you. Let’s start verse by verse and unpack the freedom of living within the Word of God.
I. Finding the Pearls of Opportunity in God’s Word
A. The Word is a GIFT of Life to the Soul!
“Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.” vs. 17
When I read this passage, I can feel what the writer is saying. I know there are multiple times in my life where I have felt drained of all energy, strength, and resources. But coming to God’s Word, I have felt life restored in me. This is the Living Word. It will restore your soul. Nothing else in this world can give you life like the Word of God. It is a true gift that in it’s fullest meaning after we give ourselves over to God’s Son, accepting Him as Lord Savior. Then and only then, we can find the incorruptible truth filtering itself into every inch of our being and making us come alive with every breath we breathe.
B. The Word Illuminates the Soul
“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”
vs. 18
The more we pray for our eyes to be open to the Truth in God’s Word, the more marvelous things we can see. It’s amazing how I can read one passage over and over again, but as I grow in the Lord and ask Him to clean out the filth in my life. My eyes become clearer and His Word becomes more alive to me. Words that didn’t jump off the page before, jump off the page now. God’s Word will never become boring to read, there will always be something new in it for you and I. We need to go to it with fresh eyes, willing to see the mysteries that haven’t been unfolded for us before, the treasures that have been hidden, the details that are waiting to feed our souls. May our eyes open wider to the Truth waiting to be revealed in God’s Word to us on a daily basis.
C. The Word reminds us we’re not Home Yet
“I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.” vs. 19
Have you been reading the road signs on this journey we’ve been walking together? Caution Ahead ~ Go when you are ready to live righteously before God. Do Not Enter ~ Don’t enter dangerous territory without having the Word of God hidden in your heart. Satan is ready to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). You need God’s Word to fight back! This verse gives the road sign of Detour Ahead ~ This is not my destination, this is my journey to my destination. We are here to reserve our inheritance in heaven, not to be entangled by the perishable things on this earth. So the next time you feel like you were made for something more, I’ll let you in on a little secret…You were! You are made for a home in Glory! But while you are on this earth longing for the home awaiting us, spend your time wisely. Teach others how to find the freedom in God’s Word and to know His love like you do. So they may know their True Home is awaiting them!
D. The Word Stirs up Longing in the Soul
“My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.” vs. 20
Longing ~ A strong persistent desire to do something. In this case, there is a desire to discover more of God’s Word. When you find something that you are passionate about, you tend to talk about it a lot and learn as much as you can about the subject. God desires for us to have this kind of longing for His Word. To reach for it with a desire to devour it and learn to live by the words we read in it. He doesn’t want it to be a chore you think you have to do on a daily basis. He wants you to enjoy the time you get to spend with Him. Trust me, the Word has more value and more wonderful richness than any other book in this world. It’s taking the time to study it and learn what God would have you do with the words written in it just for you.
May the Word of God start to draw you like a magnet. May you start to enjoy the simplicity of even the smallest word, knowing the time and the detail that God spent on it for you. Dive in and see who God is. He’s waiting to enrich your life with every word written from Genesis to Revelation. I pray the Lord will use this devotional today to help you see the power in His Word and what a treasure we have in it. May we not take for granted our freedom to read it and learn more about our Heavenly Father.
Lord, I pray that my eyes will become more open to see all that is inside Your Word. May I truly spend more time getting to know you through the Words you have breathed life into. May I find the pearls in your Word and carry them with adoration in my heart!
In Humble Adoration I seek You,
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