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"Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!  Turn my eyes from worthless things;"

~ Psalm 119:36-37a

 

I am such a selfish person!  God’s Word tells me so.  Many other people have told me so.  My own heart (conscience) tells me so.  As Isaiah said in the heavenly throne room, “Woe is me…I am undone!” 

My resolve to follow the LORD is often pitiful and tainted with selfish gain (v.36).  My eyes are drawn to and fixed on worthless things (v.37).   My desire that God may be feared is lacking (v.38).  The reproach that I dread (v.39), I bring on myself through my selfishness, my lack of resolve, my desire to be a god unto myself.

The LORD desires that he would be feared, and rightfully so.  The LORD desires to remove the reproach that I dread, and mercifully so.  The LORD desires to give me life, and graciously so.  The LORD desires my whole heart (v.34), for my delight to be in him (v.35), to teach me (v.33) and give me life in his righteousness (v.40), and undeservedly so.

Pray for me.  Pray for yourself.  Pray for the rest of our church family, to take our eyes off of worthless selfish gain, to be resolved, to fear the LORD, to obey his commands, to enjoy the life he gives in his righteousness.