by Robert Fudge

4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.
5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced;
burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.
7 Then I said, "Here I am, I have come--it is written about me in the scroll.
8 I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."

Some of you may recognize a part of this Psalm recorded in the book of Hebrews and applied to Jesus. (Heb. 10:6-8) The fact that it is applied to our Lord is all the more reason we need to apply it to our lives and our hearts. While God required that sacrifices be made by Israel under the law of Moses, that is not what God was really seeking. Today, He wants us to do good things and go to church. But if this is the sum of our serving Him, we have missed the point entirely. God was not (and is not) looking for penance for doing wrong, He is looking for obedience. He wants us (like Jesus) to be able to say; “I desire to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart”.

When we consider the wonders that the Lord has done toward each of us they are too many to count. We live in a land of plenty. We live in a land where we have the freedom to study God’s word and even speak openly His name. We have families and friends that love us and care about us. Look at the entire creation around us and see the wonders of God. Consider His great love toward us in the giving of His son for our sin – even when we don’t deserve it. Yet, in spite of all this, how many times do we turn aside to other gods? The gods of intellect, the gods of money, the gods of pleasure, the gods of self interest and ego, the gods of humanism are all calling us to follow them.

Jesus came to this earth and did the will of the Father. He did it without flaw or deviation. He fully made His will the will of the Father. He then taught His disciples to pray “thy will be done on earth, even as it is in heaven.” Each of us must learn to conform our will to the will of God. Some see this as restricting but actually it gives freedom. If my will is to do the will of God then I can do anything I want because I will only want to do His will. Is this really possible for us? Can we really do this? If we can, how can we do it? The answer is given in verse 8 when he says: “Your law is written in my heart.” We must devote more effort, time and energy to studying the word of God. Remember, it was Jesus who said that we are to “hunger and thirst after righteousness." Peter said that we are to be like new born babies and desire the pure milk of the word. We are saved by God’s grace but we must first know Him. Peter says as Christians we are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today, let’s each of us make a new commitment to serve God from the heart, to make His will our will and to worship Him as our only God. When we do this it will show in our lives. It will show in our attitude toward others and toward our service to God.

Lord, please fill my heart with a better understanding of your will. Please open my heart to a greater love for you. Please mold my heart to better do your will today. Help me to change my heart, one day at a time with a new desire and commitment to be like you. Thank you for your son Jesus who died for my sin. It is in his name that I offer this prayer to you today.

May God bless you as you live in His will.