So I don't know about you but I can be easily intimidated, most of the time by random things. Big books are one of those things that intimidate me. If you are familiar with the book Redeeming Love, this is such a book. It took me about 3 years of hearing how great it is to actually pick it up and commit. And boy was I glad I did...in fact, it's sitting on my nightstand to begin reading again over my Mardi Gras break.
So this intimidation often hits when it comes to reading God's Word. It is big. Has lots of deep thoughts...and I am a simple, shoot-it-to-me-straight kind of girl! Bring it down to my 2nd grade world I live in;). (I can only imagine my faces of confusion in church and Bible study that the teachers see from me). I am doing a devotion from the blog shereadstruth.org right now about God's Word. Everyday there is a snippet to read from Psalm 119...the big long Psalm right smack in the middle of your Bible. I guess I never realized I haven't really read it in its entirety. Probably because of the length of it.
As I have been reading I have been struck with the instruction of God's Word and how it is viewed from the world's eyes and even many believer's eyes. The Bible is often perceived as a book of do's and don'ts, commands and instructions that we must follow or we are "doomed."(More on that at a later time). But as I read the Psalm, I love how the psalmist praises God for His instruction:
" I will praise you with a sincere heart when I learn Your righteous judgements."
"I rejoice in the way revealed by Your decrees as much as in all riches."
"I will delight in Your commands, which I love."
And these are only a few of many. You see the Psalmist is not burdened by the commands of God. I believe he finds freedom in them. They are meant to give you life! A life you were meant to live from the beginning. A life not of perfection or free of trials, but a life that is guided by the One who can ease all of your burdens.
A couple of weeks ago someone shared in Sunday School about the security children find in boundaries. I see this everyday. Not only in my students but also in myself. I LOVE rules. Well, I love being given clear expectations. The more you can tell me exactly what is expected of me the easier my load feels. Otherwise I worry I am going to disappoint or mess up or really really mess up to where it deeply affects someone else, and the list goes on. Whether you like to admit it or not, I believe we all appreciate knowing what is expected of us, and we could all use some boundaries in our life. His words of instruction were never meant to be a burden. They were meant to bring freedom from the bondage of sin. There is great freedom in abiding in God's instructions if we will trust Him enough with our lives.
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing , but it is God's power to us who are being saved." 1 Cor. 1:18
