July 18, 2017
Central Truth
God's rules are worth more than gold. Satan will try to convince us to believe that God's rules keep us from fun, but His rules don't restrict; they give us freedom. When we believe that His Word is right and choose to obey, we find life.
Therefore I love your commandments
above gold, above fine gold.
Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;
I hate every false way.
(Psalm 119:127-28)
121
I have done what is just and right;
do not leave me to my oppressors.
122
Give your servant a pledge of good;
let not the insolent oppress me.
123
My eyes long for your salvation
and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
124
Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,
and teach me your statutes.
125
I am your servant; give me understanding,
that I may know your testimonies!
126
It is time for the LORD to act,
for your law has been broken.
127
Therefore I love your commandments
above gold, above fine gold.
128
Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;
I hate every false way.
"Thank you, Mom and Dad, for my curfew. Good call on the time! And thank y'all for not allowing me to have boys over when you aren't home. That's my favorite rule! I love your commandments."
This is something I never said to my parents growing up. Can you imagine? Looking back, however, I have such a deep respect for my parents and their rules because I see how they protected me and set me up for a life that pleased the Lord. And these rules came from people who aren't perfect.
Imagine rules from someone—a Savior—who is perfect.
I accepted Christ as my Savior when I was 6 years old. I learned God's rules growing up, but one thing I don't remember learning was that God's rules aren't to restrict us but to give us freedom. When I was in high school, I began to question these rules from God and the ones from my parents, too! Satan tempted me to believe that first, God isn't good, and second, neither are His rules. So, I decided to make my own rules and began a relationship that I knew did not honor God. I didn't want to ditch Him, but wanted Him on board with my sin.
This disobedience led to a place of emptiness. For six years I cycled between trying to do things my way and falling back on Him. It wasn't until the end of college that I gave up on the back-and-forth and fully surrendered to Him. Disobeying Him left me trapped, empty, and broken, but His grace and forgiveness rescued me. When we see God's rules as a path to freedom and not a restraint from joy, we can trust His Word and obey, knowing it will give us life—life that is richer than gold, fine gold.
1. Do you believe all of God's rules are good?
2. In what areas are you doubting that His rules provide freedom?
3. When was the last time you thanked God for the boundaries He's set for us?