Ps 119:153-160 Resh
153 Look upon my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law. 154 Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise. 155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek out your decrees. 156 Your compassion is great, O LORD; preserve my life according to your laws. 157 Many are the foes who persecute me, but I have not turned from your statutes. 158 I look on the faithless with loathing, for they do not obey your word. 159 See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your love. 160 All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.

As I was thinking yesterday about some of the articles written lately on this Psalm, I heard the song “Trust And Obey” playing in my truck. I then began to think about Ephesians 2 where Paul talks about our salvation is by grace and not works so we have no right to boast about our own doing. I also remembered verse 10 which follows and how it tells us we have been created to do good works which God has prepared for us to do.

At an early age in my life I began to try to please those that I loved. I can distinctly remember doing this for my mother (who probably does not remember that part of my childhood), my grandmother, sitters and teachers. I gladly did chores and then ask for more work. Why would a young lad do these things? I loved them and wanted to please them. I did not do it to avoid punishment (although this did not always apply to Mom and I did get my share of punishment there) or to earn their love – I knew they already loved me. I did it to return the love and to bring joy to their lives.

This is to be our attitude toward our obedience to God. He loves us so much that he has saved us from sin and hell by allowing his Son to die for our sin. Not only this, but he has adopted me into his family to be his son – a joint heir with Jesus! How can I do anything but serve him and do all in my power to please him? He loves me so much he sent his Spirit to live in me to help me every hour of every day; how can I not submit to his will and live for him? So I trust and obey.

O God, give me courage to face my weakness and my sin. Give me strength to admit when I fail and a willingness to turn from all wrong. Give me a heart like David that wants to be just like you. Keep me focused on you and your word so I will know you better every day and live for you. Use me as your servant to help others live for you. Please give aid to those who are suffering and those who are sick. Teach me to love even as you have loved me. Show me how to forgive as you have forgiven me. I humbly ask in the name of Jesus who died for me. Robert