August 2012

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11

"I Think I Can, I Think I Can. . ."

Jesus to the disciples: If you love me, keep my commandments. John 14:13

Well now, that's pretty clear! And yet, just like children looking for a way to "get around" their parents' instructions through some sort of technicality or crafty misinterpretation, we often do the same with Jesus' commandments. Think of the man in Luke chapter ten who quoted the Old Testament commandments, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself," but who then asked Jesus, "But who is my neighbor?" Did the man want clarification so he wouldn't miss loving someone, or was he trying to figure out who he was off the hook for, whom he didn't have to love? Only that man and God know for sure. Why do we question Jesus' commandments? To improve in keeping them, or to figure out which ones we're off the hook for? Only we and God know for sure.

Many years ago I heard a pastor say, in relationship to the blessing of having biblical commandments to guide us, "A train runs freest on its tracks." Well, yes, it does! Do I want to be derailed and sidetracked, or do I want to be running freely, chugging along, moving forward on the track God, in His great love and mercy, has laid out for me? Do I want to reach the good destinations He has planned for me, or do I want to sit cockeyed, rusting, and ineffective off the track never experiencing the free-wheeling freedom He has planned for me?

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance. Psalm 16:6

Do you feel that the lines, the tracks, the commandments, have fallen to you in pleasant places? If yes, then Hallelujah! If no, then why not? Talk to the Lord about it in prayer. He'll help you sort it out and get back on track.

Daye Phillippo

August, 2012