IRRESISTIBLE INVITATION

Conversations with the Pastor

Day 6: A Roadmap For The Journey

I know a pastor who would say that we are stuck more on the bible and less on the Jesus of the bible. Stuck or not the Bible is of profound significance for the Body of Christ. It is through the bible that we have come to discover so many things about God, the church and Jesus Christ. The bible is extremely important for those of us who use it as the primary source of authority for doing theology or talking about our search for God. Look with me at Psalms 119:97-112:


Oh, how I love your law!
It is my meditation all day long.
Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
for it is always with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers,
for your decrees are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged,
for I keep your precepts.
I hold back my feet from every evil way,
in order to keep your word.
I do not turn away from your ordinances,
for you have taught me.


How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Through your precepts I get understanding;
therefore I hate every false way.


Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
to observe your righteous ordinances.
I am severely afflicted;
give me life, O LORD, according to your word.
Accept my offerings of praise, O LORD,
and teach me your ordinances.
I hold my life in my hand continually,
but I do not forget your law.
The wicked have laid a snare for me,
but I do not stray from your precepts.


Your decrees are my heritage for ever;
they are the joy of my heart.
I incline my heart to perform your statutes
for ever, to the end.


For some reason the Psalmist was enchanted by the word of the Lord, or the statutes of the Lord, or the ordinances of the Lord, or the precepts of the Lord, or the decrees of the Lord. He experiences the Word of God as a lamp, a light and life giving. The Psalmist must have spent much time delighting in the word of the Lord. In the very First Psalm the Psalmist said,


“Happy are those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers;
but their delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
They are like trees
planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.


The Psalmist found happiness and delight in the word of God and was dedicated to meditating on it day and night. And his meditation on the word of God had such an impact on him that he offered in Psalm1 an option for persons to delight in the word of God or the law of God and meditate on it day and night are be like trees (not shall be like trees, ARE like trees) planted by streams of water, and bear fruit when it’s time to bear fruit. And he assured the reader that their leaves, which they need to assist in the fruit bearing process, will not wither. And in everything such person do they prosper.


Can you imagine what your life would be like if the same thing happened to you when you find joy in the word of God, meditated on it day and night, used it as a lamp for your feet and a light to your path. Look at Moses. God knew everything about Moses and yet invited him to have fellowship with him and to work on the Exodus Project. God knew that he had killed a man in Egypt and that he was running for his life. God knew that he was hiding out on his father-in-law’s property for 40 years. God also knew that Moses had great leadership abilities. God knew him. Where would Moses have been if he had used the word of God as a lamp for his feet and a light for his path? Wherever he would have been when he did have his “burning bush” experience with the angel/God he was restored to a new walk with God and this time God had him take his shoes off so that he could experience what it is like to walk of holy ground, and to have his feet experience the word of God as a lamp, and a light to his path, all the way back into Egypt.


Sometimes the word of God can have an impact on the very things we run from and help us to endure as when the sun comes out in all its scorching glory but do not cause the leaves of the trees to wither. Listen the word of God is awesome. Pay attention to it so that when you too are afflicted you might be able to say like the Psalmist, “…give me life, O Lord, according to your word.