Young People's Group

The Challenge to Keep God’s Word

by Mitchell Tan
February 12, 2016

STRUGGLING WITH KEEPING GOD’S WORD

Do you struggle with keeping the word of God and to consistently do so? The fact of the matter is that we all do. In Psalm 119:57-64, the Psalmist wrote about his struggle to obey God’s word.

“You are my portion, O Lord;
I have said that I would keep Your words.”
Psalm 119:57

He knew that God was indeed his portion in life. And he wanted to please the Lord by keeping the law. However, talking and writing reflections about keeping God’s word is one thing. Actually getting down to keeping His word is another. The Psalmist knew that he was having a hard time trying to follow His word. He had spoken about doing it but in reality, practising it was not so straight-forward. He was struggling with keeping the Lord’s ways.

CHECKING THE DIRECTION THAT WE ARE WALKING

“I thought about my ways,
And turned my feet to Your testimonies.”
Psalm 119:59

One of the ways to deal with this is to really think and check through how we are living our life. The Psalmist thought about his ways. He sought to account for them and to deeply consider through whether he was heading in the right direction. It was obvious that he had been found wanting. As such, he decided to turn his feet towards the Lord’s testimonies. He was returning to the path that he had originally been on. He prayed for mercy and turned his feet around to walk toward the Lord’s way. Young people, check the direction that you are walking. Are you walking in His ways?

CHOOSING URGENTLY TO WALK IN THE LORD’S WAYS

“I made haste, and did not delay
To keep Your commandments.”
Psalm 119:60

When the Psalmist made a change for the better, he did not stop to think whether he should. He knew that if he did not act on it straight away, he may just delay in doing so. Of greater concern was that he may just go back to his old and sinful ways. The best thing to do when it comes to wanting to go back to the ways of God is to urgently get down to keeping His commandments. There should come the highest regard with reference to the commandments of God. They are meant to be obeyed and to be followed after. Young people, let’s make sure that if we want to come back to the Lord and His ways that we urgently seek to do so and not wait. There is no better time than now.

RESULTS OF KEEPING THE LORD’S WORD

1. GIVING JOYFUL PRAISE TO GOD FOR HIS WORD

“At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You,
Because of Your righteous judgments.”
Psalm 119:62

The Psalmist found a great sense of joy in the Lord’s word as he sought to keep them. Even though he may have been going through some suffering, he was still able to rise up at midnight to give praise and thanksgiving to God for His word. The apostle Paul and Titus were in prison when they at midnight prayed and sang hymns to God (Acts 16:25). What a great spirit of joy and thanksgiving to have!

2. HAVING COMPANIONSHIP WITH THOSE FEAR THE LORD

“I am a companion of all who fear You,
And of those who keep Your precepts.”
Psalm 119:63

The Psalmist also learnt to be a companion to those who fear the Lord and those who keep His word. He chose his companions very carefully. He knew that these companions would help him to walk in the ways of the Lord. As the Psalmist walked with God, he was able to have companionship with those who loved the Lord and fear His name too. Young people, let’s choose our friends and companions carefully. As we walk with God, let’s walk with those who would walk with Him too.

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