In what ways can we show love for God's commandments practically? Opening the Text “I lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes.” (Psalm 119:48) The psalmist’s raised hands paint a vivid picture: wholehearted affection for God’s commands that naturally overflows into action and reflection. Why Love His Commands? • John 14:15 – “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” • 1 John 5:3 – “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” Loving God and loving His commands are inseparable. They reveal His character, direct our steps, and guard us from empty living. Hands Up—A Picture of Commitment • Lifting hands signals surrender and honor. • Love for the Word moves from emotion to expression—showing up in daily choices, speech, and priorities. Living Out Love for God’s Commandments 1. Meditate Intentionally • Joshua 1:8 – keep Scripture “day and night.” • Schedule unhurried moments to read, ponder, and speak the Word aloud. 2. Memorize and Store • Psalm 119:11 – “I have hidden Your word in my heart.” • Tack verses on mirrors, phone screens, dashboards—let them shape instinctive responses. 3. Obey Promptly • James 1:22 – be “doers of the word.” • When Scripture speaks on honesty, purity, generosity, or forgiveness, respond without delay. 4. Teach Diligently • Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – talk of God’s words “when you sit … walk … lie down … get up.” • Weave biblical principles into dinner conversations, commutes, text messages. 5. Speak and Sing the Word • Colossians 3:16 – let the Word “dwell in you richly … sing psalms.” • Incorporate Scripture into worship playlists, family devotions, and small-group gatherings. 6. Use Scripture as the Decision Grid • Before major choices—career moves, spending, relationships—filter motives through clear commands (e.g., integrity, stewardship, purity). 7. Encourage One Another • Share verses that have guided you through trials; celebrate obedience stories in community. 8. Resist Compromise • Psalm 119 continually contrasts delight in God’s law with disdain for false ways—choose loyalty even when culture pulls opposite. 9. Pray Scripture Back to God • Turn commands into petitions: “Lord, shape my heart to love truth; empower me to forgive as You command.” 10. Celebrate the Blessings of Obedience • Proverbs 3:1-2 – keeping commands adds “length of days and years of life and peace.” • Note tangible ways obedience has protected, provided, or granted peace, and let gratitude fuel further faithfulness. Guardrails for Everyday Life • Budgeting: Give first, spend wisely (Proverbs 3:9). • Speech: Refuse gossip, pursue encouragement (Ephesians 4:29). • Media Choices: Test content against Philippians 4:8. • Work Ethic: Labor “as unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). • Relationships: Practice patient, sacrificial love (1 Corinthians 13). Encouragement to Continue Loving God’s commandments is not a one-time gesture but a lifelong rhythm. Keep lifting your hands in devotion, keep hiding His Word in your heart, and watch how delight in His statutes steadily transforms thought, behavior, and influence. |
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