NOTE: Isabella and I are heading to the Dominican Republic tomorrow morning. We are going to see the children from our schools and also feed prisoners from the local prison in La Vega. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation towards our work there, please visit http://ripministries.org/donate and make a donation to the General Fund. All proceeds received for the next few days will go towards this trip.
Today we continue our series entitled, “Back to the Bible,” with Part 13. Yesterday I introduced you to Psalm 119. This Psalm is the longest chapter in the Bible. David wrote a stanza of eight verses for each of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. We will look at many of these verses over the next few weeks. Let’s begin our journey today with verses 1-4. We will look at them from The Passion Bible Translation (TPT).
David said:
You’re only truly happy when you walk in total integrity, walking in the light of God’s word.
What joy overwhelms everyone who keeps the ways of God, those who seek him as their heart’s passion!
They’ll never do what’s wrong but will always choose the paths of the Lord.
God has prescribed the right way to live: obeying his laws with all our hearts.
(Psalm 119:1-4 TPT)
So what does this mean to you today? Let’s glean a few things from these verses.
1. The Bible says, “You’re only truly happy when you walk in total integrity, walking in the light of God’s word.” (Psalm 119:1 TPT).
a) One way of looking at the word integrity is by thinking of yourself as being fully “integrated.” Like God, you are a tripartite being. This means there are three aspects of you. You are a spirit, you possess a soul (where your mind, emotions and will reside), and your spirit and soul live in your body (for now, while you are in the earth). For you to be fully integrated (to be a man/woman of integrity), your spirit, soul and body must be in alignment. What your heart desires, what your body yearns for and what your mind decides must all be in agreement. The only way to truly get to this type of integration is with God’s Word.
b) The light of God’s Word enables you to walk in integrity (being fully integrated). The Bible says that living this way is the ONLY way you will truly be happy in life.
2. David said, “What joy overwhelms everyone who keeps the ways of God, those who seek him as their heart’s passion! They’ll never do what’s wrong but will always choose the paths of the Lord.” (Psalm 119:2,3 TPT).
a) The Bible teaches that when seeking God becomes your heart’s passion, divine joy will overwhelm and overtake you.
b) When God becomes your true pursuit in life — knowing Him, honoring Him, living for Him, and etc. — you will live a life full of supernatural joy. This is my testimony.
c) When the pursuit of God becomes your life’s passion, the text (Psalm 119:3 TPT) says that you’ll, “never do what’s wrong but will always choose the paths of the Lord.” Your passion will influence your decisions and you will live a life pleasing in God’s sight. Right or wrong, good or bad, your heart will always follow your passion. This is why it is critical to make the pursuit of God the passion of your life!
3. The Bible says, “God has prescribed the right way to live: obeying his laws with all our hearts.” (Psalm 119:4 TPT).
a) In today’s society people are told that they can be whatever they want to be and do whatever they want to do. It seems like everything is accepted and everything is supposed to be acceptable. If a child of God has standards and he/she has the audacity to believe in right and wrong, good and evil, holiness and sin, they are labeled a “bigot.” Because they are not allowing for “self expression.” Well, the Bible is clear that there is actually a “right way to live.” Even though it’s 2018, God still has standards. His Word is still true. His precepts are still binding. Holiness is still our aim. Obeying God’s Word with all our hearts should still be our goal.
b) Jesus did not die so we could live whatever life we come up with in our own mind. We were bought with a price. That price was the Blood of the Son of God. He died for us, so we could live for Him! Never forget that!
Closing Confession:
Father, this is a season of expectation for me. I fill my heart with Your Word. I meditate and medicate Your Word day and night. Pursuing You IS my heart’s passion. Pleasing You IS my heart’s desire. Your Word enables me to live as a person of integrity. What my heart desires, my body yearns for, and my mind decides are all in alignment, because Your Word is the foundation for my life. Living this way, I am truly happy. Your joy, supernatural joy, overwhelms and overtakes me daily. I am going to heaven and I will also going to ENJOY THE RIDE! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
