God’s Laws
July 1, 2023 2023-07-01 8:02God’s Laws
God’s laws.
Psalms 119:15
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways. (NIV)
I don’t know anyone who enjoys a run-in with the law. I remember in my younger days, and occasionally now, I procrastinate renewing my auto tags. Then, when I see a policeman, no matter how far or near, my heart starts to beat faster, and beads of sweat pop up on my bald head. I do not want a ticket. I don’t like the feeling that I have done something wrong. I don’t like the tension.
But God’s laws are very different from our earthly laws. When I am waiting in an infinitely long line to get my tags renewed, I do not ponder or meditate on the reasons for this law. If I did, I don’t know that I would always find logic, reason, or beneficence in them. But God’s laws have been ordained not only to protect me but to propel my life into a higher sphere of wellbeing. However, if I am unable to see past the written law into the heart of God behind it, I will despise the laws of God in the same way I do flashing red and blue lights.
The psalmist says that he meditates on the precepts of God. A precept is a law. It is that which has been ordained by the authority, but the root word insinuates a visit. Think of it like someone coming to visit you to give you direction for your own good. Through His laws and our obedience to them, He comes to us and stays with us as a guest. If we disregard His laws, we cut His visit short that day. His mercy is new every morning as He comes to us again through His law and we can commune with Him or invite Him to leave again.
We must meditate on the laws of God and how they are opening a path to a better life with Him. His presence in our life is better than life the Bible says. If we would stop thinking of God’s law as we do natural law, we might open ourselves to a greater awareness of His presence and goodness in our life. This awareness comes from meditating and pondering deeply why God has commanded what He has. For example, why has He commanded that we forgive seventy times seven? Why has He commanded us to honor Him with our wealth?
Prayer: Lord, help me to spend time meditating on your laws and how they open me to deeper communion with You. Amen.