You know, before anything else, I just want to apologize to you, dear reader, and to myself. I started playing this old-school, 1997 single player game which ‘digitized’ the entire experience of the Trading Card Game (TCG) Magic: The Gathering (M:TG)… and ever since I installed it and tried it out last, oh, Sunday evening, it’s literally taken a huge chunk off of my time. I made an excuse that yesterday was going to be my ‘rest’ day, and played a good 2, or 3, or even 4 hours straight before actually going out and doing productive stuff.
Had the same issue today, and if I’m being honest, writing is slightly feeling like a chore. I don’t know, it’s that whole high-school version of me that doesn’t mind staying at home and being glued to the computer screen, coming back to haunt my 40-year old self, with all that I’ve gone through and all I’ve learned.
And with that said, well, I have an answer for those posts I’ve been seeing every now and then on X, ‘What’s 3 words you would tell yourself 30 years ago?’
Stop playing too much computer games. Also, casual sex is a pipe dream, and porn messes with your mind.
Yeah, that’s right, 3 words.
Anyway.
Psalm 119:57-64
HETH
57 The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words.
58 I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.
59 When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies;
60 I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.
After all I’ve mentioned above, all this has more value for me. I’ve realized now, at my age, how things really should be placed into their proper priority, as early in life as possible. I regret to say that I’ve never thought about all that, thinking that I should be present in the present – I mean, there’s nothing wrong with living in the moment, but I feel as if I would be honoring myself, my God, and others a whole lot more if there was some actual structure to how I think and do things.
And sure, I could join the rest of the drones world in having my own system, meticulously defined by and/or for us down to the smallest of details. However, I feel as if it’s a good tradeoff for us to move a step above putting things in order according to our limited mindset and senses – that is, for us to define or differentiate that which is absolute, infinite and eternal and placing that a tier above the rest within this reality, which itself is bound by time and space.
That’s probably where some of the motivation of this Psalmist, in emphasizing the priority of God’s Word/Law/Commandment/Statutes/Rules… verse in and verse out for a little less than a couple hundred verses in a single Chapter and Psalm.
For he is very willing to keep the words of the Lord, as He is his Portion. And, see there, not only is the Lord’s Word his priority, but the Lord HIMSELF – for though he is aware of His promises of grace towards him, he continues to ‘entreat (His) favor with all (his) heart’.
This tells me, again, that for any relationship, the words exchanged are just as important as the people themselves – and, in this case, we’re not only thankful for God Himself, but His Word – the Scripture, but especially Christ, the Living Word.
The Psalmist may not have been aware of the Messiah and His birth, death, resurrection and ascension, but we have – and though he precedes the turning of his feet to God’s testimonies with his reflection on his own work, we have the privilege; Yes, we give utmost THANKS to God, because it’s all through Christ – Christ was the One who pondered on our ways, and chose to be the literal Way, and as such, we are also introspective, but not from a foundation of critical condemnation, but of grace followed by sincerity, genuineness and humility. It’s all through Christ – Christ was the One who not only turned His feet towards us, but He was and is the Word, the Testimony made flesh who was not only content with being born and dwelling as one of us, but also gave ALL for ALL of us to be reconciled to the Father, for ALL time. Amazing!
61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.
62 At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.
63 I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.
64 The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!
In this day and age, and in this busy season I suppose we’re to be reminded of Scripture, but let us also remember and take in, how the Truth, how the living Word does not forget us. In the darkness and in the faithlessness, God continues to be faithful to us – Christ guaranteed this on the cross. The Psalmist says he does not forget His Law – through Christ, we take comfort because when we’re forgetful and/or overwhelmed, we have the Holy Spirit reminding us, convicting us of our Father’s faithfulness to us.
And, really, this goodness that is consistent and constant even in all the chaos and randomness of this reality, whether it happens by us and/or to us, we are as close to God as we could ever be, and, more importantly, He is willing and very willing to be as close to us as our Father. This goodness is what causes us to sing praise to Him! Indeed, let us be reminded that we praise Him FROM His love for us, and we don’t do what we do FOR Him to love us. It’s all from Christ!
We praise Him, and we continue to remind those in our areas of influence – that God is good all the time, and that He is faithful to us even/especially when we are faithless. The Holy Spirit both reminds us and leads us to others who need the same reminder. Indeed, may we be reminded, beyond the dark and hopeless picture the world paints and insists we believe is reality – I sincerely pray we be reminded that above all of it is the everlasting love of our Father, for us and not against us, with us now and forever.
Until the next post coming very soon, may the Lord continue to bless us all.
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