Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you. (Psalms 119:89-91, NIV)
Golf is a game governed by rules that each golfer agrees to abide by. The game can only be played fairly if each person playing understands the rules and plays according to them. The conditions from one course to the next may change, but the governing rules do not. The stability of the rules allows players to know in advance what options they have in every given situation.
As followers of Jesus, we agree to be governed by his word and the fundamental laws he has established. These rules are designed to benefit and direct us when we find ourselves in uncharted territory and uncertain terrain. The world we live in is difficult to navigate at times and we long for certainty in the path we choose. We most often try to figure out for ourselves what we should do by using our common sense and the wisdom of the world around us. Our choices are colored by the standards and values of the world we see and feel and touch. Our faith in God asks us to follow a different standard as we seek to serve and glorify him.
Scripture points out very clearly that God’s word, laws, and values are timeless and do not change. There are no relative standards, no rules that allow us to do what seems right to us—only God’s enduring standard. What is that standard? Jesus summed it up with the first and greatest commandment. We are to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. Then he said, “The second is like: love your neighbor as you love yourself.” When we are unclear as to how we should proceed in a given situation, we need only to filter our choices through those two commandments. We won’t miss the mark if we follow these enduring standards.
We will spend our existence here on earth either doing it our way or doing it his way. His laws will endure forever and don’t change. Thank God that he has provided us with that kind of stability to enable us to know in advance what options we can choose that are pleasing to him and allow us to serve him.
God’s plan and order for our lives is predicated on his great love for us. Even when we miss the mark and fail to make the right choice, his grace covers us and allows us another chance to try again. We are blessed beyond measure. Our rightful response to that kind of love should be to seek his heart and direction and to love and serve him with every step we take.
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Linda Ballard
August 6, 2015
Copyright 2015 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.