VERSE:
You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.
— Psalm 119:4

THOUGHT:
One of the things I love about the God’s word is that it is declarative. You don’t find scriptures that say “perhaps you should do this” or “the Lord suggests that”. When God lays down a precept or a command it is intended to be fully obeyed. However, in the American church, we like to draw a line of distinction separating the privileges of Christianity from the commands of Christianity; saying that the privileges are for us, and relegating the commands to a select few.

For example: 1 Peter 2:24 “By his wounds you have been healed.”… Now that’s for us! Matthew 28:19 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations”… now that’s for someone else. This mentality equates God’s commands to dreadful obligations. We have no right to take away from God’s word by ignoring the precepts that He intended to be fully obeyed. However, when you fully obey His precepts, you will quickly realize that they bring blessing beyond measure. Therefore, God’s commands are privileges rather than obligations.

APPLICATION:
Take inventory of your religion. Are you mainly focused on what you can get out of God, or what you can give back to God? Start looking at the bible as God’s declarative word containing precepts that are to be fully obeyed. Rather than ignoring them (or even saying “amen” but doing nothing about it), obey them.

PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I have focused on the “privileges” of Christianity and for equating your commands to “obligations”. Help me to see your commands as privileges, and help me break away from a self-consumed version of Christianity that focuses only on what I can get from you. In Jesus’ Name I pray, AMEN!