18 July 2014 How Can I Say Thanks?
Psalm 119:7
As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should.
I love verses that answer modern questions!
Here is an answer for a FAQ from Believers and non-believers alike... If we are saved by God’s grace through what Jesus did for us as a result of us being unable to be perfect and obey all of God’s laws, why do we bother with obedience to God’s Law still once we’re saved?
Paul answers it like this: Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. (Romans 6:15-18)
Perfect and true answer. And Psalm 119:7 is a perfect and true answer for me too because I am so thankful that Jesus’ sacrifice saved me from having to being obedient to all God’s requirements as the only mode for a relationship with God, forgiveness, restoration, and eternal life. I am so thankful I am not saved by what I do because I do dumb stuff. I may repent and not do the dumb stuff I repented from doing, but I’m a resourceful person and can come up with new dumb stuff.
How can I show how thankful I am for God’s grace in my life? Simple. Obey.
Do not lie, don’t steal or cheat, honor your parents, wash your hands after you touch a dead thing, share what you have, think of others, the Year of Jubilee... These are all things that can be found in the OT that God wants his people to do. All of God’s requirements are expressions of how to honor God and coexist with other humans in a positive way.
In fact, all of God’s ideas show me how perfect HE is and that I would need a Savior because as hard as I could try, I couldn’t equal God’s perfection in order to have a relationship with him.
Paul again: Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed
Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. (Galatians 3:23-25) In fact, God’s law shows me how much I need a Savior!
And my Savior made it so that I can have a relationship with God NOT based on what I do or how good I could be (Ephesians 2:8). The Law no longer shows me my shortcomings, it shows me that God doesn’t have any!
So, I choose to obey God’s Law - not to save myself but as an expression of THANKS to HIM for saving me from it.
Dear God,
As I delve into Scripture and see all your amazing regulations, I do appreciate you more and more. You haven’t left out a single thing! If everyone lived according to your Will, in even just a fraction of their lives, this world would be a different place! Please give me the ability and desire to do what pleases you today because I want to thank YOU by living as YOU prescribe. I love you and thank you and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Psalm 119:7
As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should.
I love verses that answer modern questions!
Here is an answer for a FAQ from Believers and non-believers alike... If we are saved by God’s grace through what Jesus did for us as a result of us being unable to be perfect and obey all of God’s laws, why do we bother with obedience to God’s Law still once we’re saved?
Paul answers it like this: Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. (Romans 6:15-18)
Perfect and true answer. And Psalm 119:7 is a perfect and true answer for me too because I am so thankful that Jesus’ sacrifice saved me from having to being obedient to all God’s requirements as the only mode for a relationship with God, forgiveness, restoration, and eternal life. I am so thankful I am not saved by what I do because I do dumb stuff. I may repent and not do the dumb stuff I repented from doing, but I’m a resourceful person and can come up with new dumb stuff.
How can I show how thankful I am for God’s grace in my life? Simple. Obey.
Do not lie, don’t steal or cheat, honor your parents, wash your hands after you touch a dead thing, share what you have, think of others, the Year of Jubilee... These are all things that can be found in the OT that God wants his people to do. All of God’s requirements are expressions of how to honor God and coexist with other humans in a positive way.
In fact, all of God’s ideas show me how perfect HE is and that I would need a Savior because as hard as I could try, I couldn’t equal God’s perfection in order to have a relationship with him.
Paul again: Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed
Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. (Galatians 3:23-25) In fact, God’s law shows me how much I need a Savior!
And my Savior made it so that I can have a relationship with God NOT based on what I do or how good I could be (Ephesians 2:8). The Law no longer shows me my shortcomings, it shows me that God doesn’t have any!
So, I choose to obey God’s Law - not to save myself but as an expression of THANKS to HIM for saving me from it.
Dear God,
As I delve into Scripture and see all your amazing regulations, I do appreciate you more and more. You haven’t left out a single thing! If everyone lived according to your Will, in even just a fraction of their lives, this world would be a different place! Please give me the ability and desire to do what pleases you today because I want to thank YOU by living as YOU prescribe. I love you and thank you and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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