12 BLESSINGS FROM OBEYING THE WORD OF GOD
Psalms 119
If the youth is the future of the nations, then we have to ask this legitimate question: How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. Psa 119:9
Psalms 119 is the longest chapter in the scripture and it gives emphasis about the importance and blessing of the Word of God. There are infinite of blessing coming from obeying the Word of God but I have listed 12 from them based on my observation from this precious chapter.
1. It establishes our dignity and honor
Psa 119:5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!
Psa 119:6 Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands
Daily World News convince us that education, experience, position not even wealth can exempt us from falling to shameful mistake. We watched in dismay as we saw military generals forced to end their colorful military career due to marital unfaithfulness. We sigh in anger as we watch head of states removed from their position due to corruption and dishonesty. They spend more than half of their lives just to established a good name only to end their history in shame and sometimes even in jail.
Even King David, the writer of Psalms was not exempted in committing sin with another woman. And from his experience, he can honestly tell us that only when we consider Gods command that we will be able to preserve our lives from shame.
On how we can preserve our dignity and honor, the next verses answered this important question.
2. It preserves our ways pure, insulated from the worldly influence
Psa 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
Psa 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
In this time of information technology, young people even children can easily accumulate knowledge just by browsing the internet. And though internet is useful, but it also contains wrong information that can mislead us if we are not careful. The Word of God can help us put the firewall in our mind and hearts so we can keep our ways pure and insulated from bad influence of the world. The more we get our hearts and mind soak deeper into the Word of God, the more we become less vulnerable from bad influence.
3. It protects our minds and maintains our integrity
Psa 119:23 Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees.
Psa 119:24 Your statutes are my delight; they are my counsellors.
The above verses remind us of Daniel and His three friends. The world if full of jealous people who are ready to malign us. But the genuine people of God are not compromisers. We are here to please God and not the people. Our duty is to be faithful to God and live according to His word. We need not worry about our reputation because God will take care of that.
4. It gives us strength and comfort in sorrow
Psa 119:28 My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word
Psa 119:32 I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.
Life is full of heaviness and burdens that make us weary and depress. It may not be physical but the sorrow from our soul. As the bread sustains and strengthened our physical body, the Word of God gives strength to our weary soul.
5. It gives us hope in time of suffering
Psa 119:49 Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.
Psa 119:50 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
The scripture has a word of comfort and promises for every kind of needs that we can ever have. Those promises give us hope and courage. God’s Word gives us assurance because God never speak lies. All His Word is true and trustworthy.
Assurance of Forgiveness:
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Assurance of Salvation:
1Jn 5:11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1Jn 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Assurance of Answered Prayer:
Joh 16:24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
Assurance of Guidance:
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
Pro 3:6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Assurance of Victory:
1Co 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
6. It leads us back to the right path when we are lost
Psa 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.
The grace of God provides us another chance to rectify our sins and mistakes. And the Word of God give us the guidelines how to do it. Disobedience to His Word create misery but obedience gives life and order.
7. It preserves our life from hardship and problems
Psa 119:92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
Psa 119:93 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.
The Word of God is like safety procedures, they preserve us from harm. But the problem is that we always ignore safety warning from the Word of God until we found our life in misery.
8. It makes our mind wise and smart
Psa 119:97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
Psa 119:98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.
Psa 119:99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.
Psa 119:100 I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.
The Word of God comes from the mind of God and there is no wiser person than God. Reading, meditation and obeying His Word makes one wise. The writer of Proverbs confirm it.
Pro 9:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
9. It enlightened our path brighter so we can avoid the enemies trap
Psa 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Psa 119:110 The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts.
Satan our enemy cannot harm us unless we step into his trap of temptation and deceit. The Word of God provides proper illumination to our minds and heart so we can avoid all the snare of the devil in our lives.
10. It gives us joy and happiness
Psa 119:111 Your statutes are my heritage for ever; they are the joy of my heart.
Life without God and his Word is meaningless and full of sorrow. Nothing can give us happiness and joy than discovering our purpose and destination from the Word of God.
11. It gives us deliverance from bondages
Psa 119:133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
Psa 119:153 Look upon my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law.
I have personally witness many people who are in bondage of addiction and bad habit. The word of God is powerful that it liberates people from the bondage of any kinds more than any psychologist can do.
12. It gives us peace and stability
Psa 119:165 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
There is no greater stability in life than living according to the Word of God. There is always peace for the men who obeys His word.
If you have been blessed, encouraged or inspired by this sermon then it’s your turn to be an encouragement too. You can do it by sending email to this contributor at spy2rb@yahoo.com or post comment on the discussion box below.
