2.09.2004

Who is blessed? -

The attendant blessings of salvation are not fully enjoyed apart from a deep love of God's Word. In some circles, where Christianity is very popular, the only premise for joy is to love Jesus and keep your feet from the paths of idolatry, murder, adultery, and other heinous sins. The depth which many modern churches lack is related to a failure to truly love God's Word.

Consider these verses:

From Psalm 119:
"Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!"
"Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You."
"Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart."

Joshua 1:8
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

John 14:21
"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."

Let there be no misunderstanding. Salvation is not obtained through our efforts to keep the Law, for only perfect obedience would merit the love of God and we are not capable of that. Only faith in Christ, the perfect Sacrificial Lamb, cleanses us of our guilt.

Love for God's Word and whole-hearted commitment to obedience are an evidence of the inward grace that has saved us. The full enjoyment of the blessings of salvation, as mentioned above, is grasped when we meditate on His Law and hide it in our hearts that we would walk according to all that He has commanded.

"Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him." Deuteronomy 8:6

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