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Pray for Christians around the world, particularly those persecuted or harassed.
When David viewed the majesty of the universe, he questioned the significance of mankind. Eugene Peterson paraphrased his questioning in Psalm 8
Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, Why do you bother with us?
Why take a second look our way? (Psalm 8:34, The Message).
Our conclusion to this question was that the only reason God bothers with mankind is His great love. Last week we discussed the question that follows this thinking: Does God know where I am in a vast universe? Having concluded He does know where we are and that He loves us, our next question is:
Understanding God loves us demands a response. When we truly comprehend His love, we cannot respond by saying, “Oh, that’s nice!” and then go on like self-centered children playing games of personal satisfaction. Such love cannot be ignored.
The psalmist recognized the effect God’s love would have on his life. Apparently someone had taunted him about his devotion to God, similarly to the way Christians are sometimes challenged for spending time in worship and obedient service to the Lord.
When that happened he prayed:
May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; then I will answer the one who taunts me, for I trust in your word
(Psalm 119:41,42, NIV).
It was not enough to know about God; the psalmist wanted to experience His love. The psalm then lists several ways in which our lives are changed in response to God’s love:
I will always obey your law, for ever and ever.
I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts (verses 44,45).
God’s love compels obedience to His ways, not our own. It is not a life of slavery, trying to earn righteousness before God, but a life of freedom from our own selfishness.
I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame (verse 46).
Have you been around a young person who falls in love for the first time? The beloved is the total topic of conversation. So it is with the person touched deeply by the love of God. There is no embarrassment talking of His love, even before persons of prominence.
I delight in your commands because I love them (verse 47).
Love changes the way we feel about things. Commandments which might have seemed difficult before now seem pleasurable when we look at them through eyes of love.
I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love (verse 48).
The unbeliever cannot understand the true worship of God. Here the psalmist lists worship as the spontaneous response to the love of God and His Word. True worship flows from a heart of love; it is never a dutiful act of paying tribute to a demanding God.
I meditate on your decrees (verse 48).
God’s Word becomes dominant in our thinking once we experience His love. We study His Word because through it we learn more about Him.
Remember our conversation about the Global Positioning System which is only accessible by those who possess the receiving mechanism? Every one of us has the personal ability to access the love of God. We simply have to open our hearts to Him and we will find He is there. My prayer for you is that you are experiencing His love today.
In what ways has the love of God changed your life? Have you shared that love with others?
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