Taking Heed According to Your Word

by Mitchell Tan
December 04, 2015

STRUGGLING WITH OUR SINS AS WE SEEK TO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS

It is always a humbling experience when we evaluate ourselves in the light of obeying God’s statutes. It is almost normal to see how we have fallen short in terms of obeying His command to keep His word. This was something that the Psalmist wrote about at the beginning of Psalm 119.

“You have commanded us
To keep Your precepts diligently.”
Psalm 119:4

The Lord’s commandment is for all to diligently seek to obey His word. The Psalmist expressed understanding concerning this. However, he also realized how weak he was. He prayed that that God would direct his ways to keep His commands so that he would not feel shame when he reads His word (Psalm 119:6). He knew with all honesty that he was not keeping the Lord’s command as he should.

DEALING WITH OUR SINS THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD

“How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
With my whole heart I have sought you;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments.
Your word I have hidden in my heart
That I might not sin against you.”
Psalm 119:9-11

The Psalmist carefully assessed why he had not been able to adhere to the commands of the Lord. The root problem was the outworking of sin. It was sin which caused him to wander from the Lord’s commandments. The sins of his youth continued to defile his mind and heart. Young people, if we are not careful, the sins of our youth will remain with us even when we are adults. The best way for a young man to cleanse his way is to give more earnest heed to the word of the Lord. If we hold fast to God’s word, it would bring about a cleansing work in our heart! Let’s seek to keep His word till there is full cleansing. Not only are we to take heed to His word, we are to also hide it in our heart. The word of God has a preventive aspect too. It has the power to keep us from sinning against God. Let’s take time to hide the word of God in our heart.

PRAYING HUMBLY FOR THE LORD TO TEACH US

“Blessed are You, O Lord!
Teach me Your statutes.”
Psalm 119:12

As the Psalmist sought to take heed to His word, he realized that he did not have the depth of understanding. His prayer was for the Lord to teach him His statutes. There is so much that we do not understand about the Scriptures. The Psalmist gave praise and honour to the Lord God. He recognized His lordship over all things. He humbly submitted himself to the Lord in seeking His teaching and guidance. Young people, let’s also humbly ask the Lord to teach us His commandments that we may understand His ways.

DECLARING TO OTHERS ABOUT THE WORD OF GOD

“With my lips I have declared
All the judgments of Your mouth.”
Psalm 119:13

With further understanding, the Psalmist declared the Lord’s judgment to others. It is with his lips that he had shared all the judgments of the Lord’s mouth. This was a bold declaration. Young people, let’s take this holiday time to speak to others about the cleansing power of the word of God. Let’s speak of how wonderful the Lord’s word is.

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