GOD’S WORD FOR NOVEMBER 25~ ~ Psalm 119:77 ~ ~ “Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; For Your law (Your word) is my delight.”
From the book How to Read the Bible by Dr. Michael Youssef.
The Letter and Spirit of the Law
We cannot earn our way into heaven by good works. We must accept the free gift of salvation by grace through faith. Does this mean that, once we are saved by grace, we can break the commandments without worry or guilt? Absolutely not! Anyone who believes that way and lives that way is certainly not saved by grace. We have been saved so that Jesus Christ might live His life through us. If Christ lives in us, we will not be habitual lawbreakers. As Apostle John wrote in 1 John 2:3-6:
“We know that we have come to know Him (Jesus) if we keep his commands. Whoever says, ‘I know Him’ but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys His word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”
If we truly belong to Christ, we want to obey God. Grace gives us the desire and the power to obey God. Yes, we will fail and we will sin – but we will know in our consciences that we are wrong. We will repent and confess our sins and receive His forgiveness.
Once we have experienced the grace of God, we will want to obey Him. We may not always keep the letter of the Law, but we will always want to keep the spirit of the Law. Not only will we refuse to commit adultery, but we will feel convicted if we even look at someone with lustful thoughts. We will not merely reject revenge – we will actively forgive those who have hurt us. We will love our enemies because love is the spirit of the law.
Jesus did not abolish the Law of God. He fulfilled it so that our righteousness could be greater than the righteousness of the Pharisees. Our righteousness is the righteousness of Jesus Himself.
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Helen Steiner Rice:
After the clouds, the sunshine,
After the winter, the spring.
After the shower, the rainbow –
For life is a changeable thing.
After the night, the morning,
Bidding all darkness cease,
After life’s cares and sorrows,
The comfort and sweetness of peace.
Isaiah 54:10
For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.
I Peter 5:7
Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.
Isaiah 61:3
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.