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10/30 Reading Portions: 2 Kings 11-12; 2 Timothy 2; Hosea 3-4; Psalm 119:121-144
Psalm 119:131
I open my mouth and pant, because I long for Your commandments.
REFRESHMENT
Jesus certainly did not fulfill the commands of God so His redeemed could be free to sin. He fulfilled God’s law both actively and passively so we would not be left to fear and doubt. Because we are new creations in Christ (2 Cor 5:17), and since the Lord has made us walk in His statutes because of the new heart and spirit He has placed within us (Ezek 36:26-27), we want to keep His commandments. Yet because of the corruptions which still remain, the pursuit of righteousness leaves us panting with mouths open like the deer gasps after flowing streams (Psa 42:1).
The commandments of God, however, are true spiritual refreshment. When we find ourselves panting after Christ, it is His commandments that satisfy our longing. If we are good soldiers of Jesus Christ (2 Tim 2:3), then we will long to know His commandments, desire to obey them, yearn to be conformed to their spirit, crave to be guided by their truth, and want to share them with others. Christ’s soldier will have an industrious mind, pining to receive orders from our Commander above. The Christian soldier is also a good student and, as Mr. Spurgeon says,
“a learner in the school of grace, and his eager spirit long[s] to be taught of the Lord.”—Charles H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. VI, Pilgrim Publications, Pasadena, TX, 1983; pg. 284
Moreover, the commands of God keep the disciplined soldier from straying needlessly from his post. The Lord Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, and in fulfilling the command, He was nourished and refreshed (John 4:32). The only way we can fulfill His commands in the best way a sinner saved by grace is able is to be so submissive to Christ that He performs the work through us (Phil 2:13). This is why His commandments are not a burden (1 Jn 5:3), and in fact, are refreshing: because we must be intimately surrendered to Christ in order to carry out the least command. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
AMEN! I love the word, "submit"! When I allowed Christ to crucify self, through many trials, I experienced Gal.2:20 when my whole church seemed to go forward and recommit their lives. For some reason I felt I couldn't go and that was when God spoke to my heart. HE said, "Molly, dead people cannot commit to anything and you died with MY Son. Just remember HE is committed to you as you continue to submit to HIM! (Col. 3:3,4) . . .For the past 40 years I have been dwelling in the heavenlier and every fear has gone; even in what is going on now. (1John 4:18, 19)