This post’s passage reference: Psalm 119:48-53
Have you ever been challenged, out of the blue, by a stranger in a situation where you may not have been comfortable sharing your Christian witness? I guess since I have already hinted at my age once this week I might as well do it again. I had a situation like this happen to me when I was in my early 20s, in the early 80s. (So if you do your math there, you can figure it out.) It was a dark night, but I hope that I managed to eke out a little bit of light.
Some friends and I had eaten at a restaurant one evening. As we were getting ready to leave, some were in their cars and some of us standing there talking to them. All of a sudden, this strange lady appears from out of the blue. She comes up into our group and ask this question, “Does anybody here know Jesus?”
I wish I could say that I had, immediately, without a millisecond of hesitation, answered and said, “Absolutely! I know Jesus. He’s my best friend. Can I tell you about Him?” Well, this 21-year-old’s Jesus reflexes were not that quick. It was so out of the blue that we first looked at each other, like, “What?” It was a mixed group and there were some believers there and some that were not. I answered her and told her that I knew Jesus. My friend in the car did also. There may have been another, but there were some that just remained silent, awkwardly silent.
The one thing I knew, even as an immature Christian, was that I was not going to deny Jesus. When we look at Psalm 119:48-53, we see the psalmist talking about his love for God’s Word and about how it can be difficult to stand up for God in certain situations.
As we begin in verse 48, he is in an attitude of prayer. He lifted his hands up as if to securely grasp ahold of God’s commandments. He treasured them and wanted to hold them tightly. His desire was to meditate on the statutes of God. The psalmist, knowing he is a servant, sought that God would remember, possibly repeat, the words He had spoken to him. They were words that brought hope to the psalmist. Today, we have the means for God to repeat, over and over, the things He has told us. We have the Bible!
Even in anguish the psalmist found consolation in God’s words. He was revived, restored and refreshed by God’s promises.
The psalmist had been under siege from the arrogant and presumptuous who, apparently, were attempting to intimidate him into denying the truths of God’s Law. He knew there was no way he was going to deny the judgements that were inscribed on his heart. He remembered them and he probably comforted himself with them and with the knowledge that they would never change. His faith in God was built on a solid foundation.
Then, even with the joy in his heart from having God’s promises, he was overcome by the enormity and the dreadfulness of the situation of the wicked that renounce and abandon God’s law. He determined that he would not be bullied into joining them. His place in the Light was secured.
As Christ followers, what is the challenge for us reflected in this passage? Our challenge could be to love and serve God no matter what struggles we are facing, no matter who is looking and no matter who is trying to convince us that our faith is worthless. In addition, we are challenged to remember the promises we have made to God, no matter the situation. George Horn wrote, “It is but a mockery of God, to desire Him to remember His promise made to us, when we make no conscience of the promise we have made to Him.”*
How can we apply this to our lives? Apply it by honoring God. To honor God and the promises we have made to Him, we should, first, come to know Him as the foundation of our faith and our ultimate Truth. We come to know Him through His Word and through the history of those strong believers who have gone before us and those that surround us now. People! We need people! We need the strength in numbers and the strength in spirit to conquer this scary land we are living in. Find your people, feed off of the friendship and support they give and get strength from the Holy Spirit that is within each “people.”
What does this mean to my faith? I can see my faith strengthened time and time again when I see God’s Word in action. The beautiful moments when you see lives transformed by the Word and by the actions of other believers…who are living out the precepts of God in their lives—is something that is amazing to witness. It strengthens me spiritually, and recently, emotionally, as my people (God’s people) have unashamedly provided hope, healing and love as they ministered to me in the name of Jesus.
Thank You, Lord, for being the God that never changes to meet changing current demand. I know that Your promises are eternal. They will never change and they will never fail. Help me to ceaselessly have the courage to stand on Your Precepts and uphold Your Word, from the moment the light filters through the heavens in the morning until the moon conquers the dark of the night….both now and forever more!
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“48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes. 49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. 51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law. 52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord; and have comforted myself. 53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.” Psalm 119:48-53 (KJV)
“I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope” Psalm 130:5 (KJV)
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)
“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,” Isaiah 46:9
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I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about my Jesus.
What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe? Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him? You can know Him. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity. You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.
Here is an excellent website that can give you additional information about making your decision for Jesus Christ! PeaceWithGod.net
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* Blue Letter Bible Online, Commentaries — C. H. Spurgeon, Psalm 119 Verses 48-53)
Restricted Vision, Unburdened Sight 