Psalm 119:49-56

Scripture:
Remember your word to your servant, 
      in which you have made me hope. 
This is my comfort in my affliction, 
      that your promise gives me life. 
The insolent utterly deride me, 
      but I do not turn away from your law. 
 When I think of your rules from of old, 
      I take comfort, O LORD. 
 Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, 
      who forsake your law. 
Your statutes have been my songs 
      in the house of my sojourning. 
 I remember your name in the night, O LORD, 
      and keep your law. 
This blessing has fallen to me, 
      that I have kept your precepts.   -Psalm 119:49-56, ESV

Observation:
-God is our hope as He is true to His promises.
-God's statutes are a blessing to those who keep them.
-Keeping God's statutes will not be popular with the world.
-We are servants and sojourners in this world-we belong to God.


Application:

Breaking Waves, Sonoma Beaches, California ©Deb Davis 2013

These verses tell us something about ourselves and God.  God is trustworthy; He is faithful. That is the reason we can find hope in His Word.  If God says it then it is so-it is His nature to be truthful; it is His nature to be true to HIs word.  
There are also several words that stand out to me describing our lives as believers: servants, sojourners (this is just our temporary home for a short time,) obedient, hopeful, faithful, and persevering.

It strikes me that the psalmist has to deal with the same things we do- ridicule from others for following the way of Christ.  It is difficult for us to take criticism, to be the but of jokes from the world.  We long for the rest of the world to find the joy and peace that we have found through the cross of Christ.  Yet we are surrounded by people who reject it and us in the process.  That is a cross we must bear as servants of God, just as the Lord Jesus Christ did when the world rejected Him- we can expect no less and Jesus warned us of this while He walked this earth those many years ago. (John 15:18)  No matter what the world throws at us we cannot change the message to make it more palatable to people.  God is God and He has not changed.  Christ came to die becuase we were a sinful mess with no hope of eternal life.  His death and resurection changed all that.  The precious gift God gave us in His Son is not to be taken lightly.

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Here I Stand, Redwood Coast, CA ©Deb Davis 2013

I need to remind myself of my position in Christ every morning when I wake up; I am a bond-servant, my life is to do His will and that is a life that fills me with joy, hope, and peace even when the world is raging around me-pounding like the relentless waves on a beach.  I need to remind myself that like the little bird in this photo I stand on the Solid Rock-Jesus Christ-and He will not be moved no matter what.

Grace, Peace, and Mercy,
Deb

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