The law, grace and truth (10)

Father God, thank you for this is the day that You have made and we shall be glad and rejoice in it. May You give us understanding as we read the Word and may Your Word be a lamp unto our feet and a light to our path in the name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you LORD.

In one of the previous posts, I was sharing on meditating on God's Word. The Hebrew word for meditate is "hagah" which means to murmur, ponder or imagine. When we look at the law in the Old Testament, we see that God encouraged His people to meditate on His Word. In fact, Moses read out the law to the children of Israel before they ever entered the promised land. Joshua, Moses' successor, was also instructed by God to meditate on the book of the law day and night in order for him to have good success (Joshua 1:8). We also see another man Nehemiah, who after rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem invited a scribe, Ezra, who read the law to the people. Nehemiah 8:2-3 NKJV says, "So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law."

As the law was read, the people's hearts were convicted, not condemned. It made them ponder and reflect on their identity as God's people. Later on, we see this conviction leading them to godly repentance and confession of their sins to God in Nehemiah 9 .

As saints and God's children in the New Testament, we are reminded of the importance of abiding in God's Word. Jesus in John 15:5 NKJV reminds us, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." Meditating on God's Word is still as relevant today as it was emphasized in the law which confirms God's Word in Hebrews 13:5 that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Developing a habit of reading and meditating on God's Word is especially important for every child of God who desires to grow in relationship with God and bear fruit for the glory of God's Kingdom.

Prayer: Father, thank you for the power of Your Word that creates and makes new, corrects, convicts, aligns, reforms, restores, renews and redeems our lives all for Your glory. Thank you for the promise that when we ask, You hear our prayers and grant the desires of our hearts. Right now, we ask that you supply us with the grace to read and meditate in the Word. Holy Spirit, may You individually teach each son and daughter what abiding in the Lord Jesus looks like based on their daily schedules in the name of Jesus. Open up the eyes of our understanding as we read our Bibles and most importantly may we obey Your Word for it is not by power, it is not by might but by the Spirit of the LORD. Holy Spirit, fill us in a fresh way as we hunger and thirst for Your righteousness in the name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you LORD.

I'll end with Jesus' Word found in Matthew 5:6 NKJV

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled."

Amen, thank you LORD.

Invitation to salvation: God is love and He loves you and His arms are open wide just to receive you. Jesus in Matthew 18:12 says, that He would leave the ninety nine to go find that one lost sheep. There is no need for perfection because Jesus Christ was made to be perfection on your behalf by God, the Father. If you would like to receive this free gift of salvation that is found in God's Son, Jesus Christ;

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever. Thank you Father that because the Son has made me free, I am now free indeed." AMEN.

HALLELUJAH, GLORY TO GOD FOR YOU ARE OFFICIALLY A CHILD OF GOD. PLEASE FIND A CHURCH AND GET WATER BAPTIZED!