1 of 1

Key Bible Verse: The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart ( Psalm 19:8a). Bonus Reading: Psalm 119:1-8

Commandments are God's prescriptions, pronouncements, principles. The world has principles, too, doesn't it? Stuff like: "You only go around once, so go for the gusto." Or how about: "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Everyone has heard that worldly principle—sort of like: "You might mess with me once, but don't ever try it again." There are hundreds of these shortsighted stupidisms.

But in contrast to all this faulty human thinking that seldom guides and never satisfies are "the commandments of the Lord." His principles are 100 percent right in all that they assert. They're not off-track, not even by a degree. Isn't that great to know?

Life is like a maze. The statutes of God set a right path through the maze so that we don't wander aimlessly or get lost or sidetracked by things that don't ultimately matter. God's statutes take the pressure off.

Never do we have so much joy in this world as when we are living in conformity to God's Word. Never. Like an engine firing on all cylinders. Like a gazelle running full speed. Like a symphony—every instrument pounding out the melody and harmonies in perfect tune and rhythm.

—James MacDonald in God Wrote a Book

My Response: How does God's Word alert me to flaws in the godless thinking that surrounds me?

Thought to Apply: One who uses the Bible as his guide never loses his sense of direction.—SOURCE UNKNOWN

Adapted from God Wrote a Book (Crossway, 2002) by permission.

Copyright © 2005 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

 1 of 1

share this page

Prayer for the Week

Thank you, Lord, for giving me Your Book that tells me everything I need to know about life and how to live it.

				Try an Issue of Men of Integrity Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Men of Integrity as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

FREE Newsletter Sign up for the Men of Integrity Newsletter (All fields required)    RSS Feed   RSS Help