Friday, May 25, 2007

The Happiness of Being Wholly Committed

Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
Who walk in the law of the LORD.
Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
Who seek Him with the whole heart.
(Psalm 119:1-2)
The Hebrew word for “undefiled” refers to entireness or integrity. The “undefiled in the way” are simply those who do what is right. They live in the awe of God, believe His Word and do what He says. They know how to follow directions, the torah, the law, or instruction of the Lord. Their hearts are not divided between doing right and doing wrong, but are entirely committed to the way of the Lord.

Verse 2 emphasizes this by restatement: “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart.” A testimony is a witness. God has not left us without a witness, but has revealed to us how we should live. Indeed, the word is in the plural form, “testimonies,” because, in the Bible, a matter is established by two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15). So the Scriptures do not speak of the testimony of the Lord, but of His testimonies. It is a way of saying that His Word is very sure. Those who keep His testimonies, who hear and obey them, will not be moved by the varying circumstances of life, but will live in stability and assurance.

Happy are those who seek the Lord with “the whole heart.” They do not dither, but stand firm in their commitment, because the Word of the Lord is firm and trustworthy. They have a diligent faith.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:60

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:6-8)

So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. (Mark 11:22-23)
When your heart is divided between trusting in God and trusting anything else, there is no guarantee that you will receive anything. But when your heart is wholly committed to Him and full of faith, you can move mountains.

Oh, the deep happiness of belonging fully to God, of trusting Him implicitly and following Him completely. It is life and stability, peace and prosperity.

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