18 February 2013 - Commanded to happiness

18 February 2013

The LORD does not give commands to be arbitrary or to be merely restrictive.  They are something much more important than telling a child not to touch a hot stove.  That sort of thing merely prevents negative consequences whereas the command of the LORD shapes us for our destiny.

There are two related statements today explaining the blessings of obedience.

Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.

and

Amen, I say to you, whatever you did
for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.

The commands he gives us are ordered toward our relationship with him.  We must be holy to see God (cf. Hebrews 12:14).  We must have clean hands and a pure heart to stand before him (cf. Psalm 24:4).  The more we are transformed in this way the more we will see him in all of the least of our brothers and sisters.  

As we let the LORD transform us, our hearts our opened to know his presence more and more.  This empowers our love for our brothers and sisters in a wonderful feed-forward mechanism.  Seeing him allows our love to become more and more perfect and as our love is perfected we can see him more and more.

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The enemy tries to twist our understanding of his words so that they seem to be merely oppressive.  He makes us want to oppose the commands just to be defiant and "independent."  This is silly and childish, but we all do it.  Instead, we must keep the attitude of the Psalmist:

The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.

And here is a true test for us today.  Do we really feel that the LORD's law refreshes us?  Instead of wearing us down and making us tired it is designed to be a source of strength.  LORD, reveal this to us.  Make us to live by your decrees.  Only then can we hope to say:

Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.