WALK IN GOD’S WORD

“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who WALK in the LAW of the LORD!” – Psalm 119:1

To walk in perfection is to WALK IN GOD’S WORD: “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who WALK in the LAW of the LORD!” (Psa.119:1). God’s Law is His Word! As we walk according to His Word and follow His instructions, we abide in purity (v. 9), avoid wandering astray (v.10), subdue sin (v.11), enjoy divine bounties (v.17), receive wondrous visions (v.18), overcome scorn and reproach (v. 22), are numbered among the nobles (v. 23), experience soul revival (v.25), receive fresh strength (v.28), and defeat shame (v.31). This longest psalm and chapter in the Bible is focused predominantly on the authority and adequacy of the Scriptures, and the encouragement and strength received from trusting and meditating on them. Assured that the Scriptures protect and preserve life, it is wise to hear, meditate in, obey and walk in them.

Latter verses reflect similar thoughts: “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path…DIRECT MY STEPS by YOUR WORD, and let no iniquity have dominion over me” (Psa. 119:105,133). Meaning, before I take a step in life, I must ask: Is it ordered in God’s word? Does it please Christ, the Living Word? God delights in ordering our steps in His Word for us to walk like Him: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way…The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide” (Psa.37:23,31). To those who cherish God’s sayings, He assures, “When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; and when you run, you will not stumble” (Pro.4:12). We become more like Jesus as we follow His precepts and practices. To the extent we know our heavenly Father through His Word to that extent we can trust Him.

If we spent as much time in God’s Word as we do at the dinner table, our spirit and character would be strong and blooming. And no matter what our circumstances happened to be, we would experience inner joy and peace. The fulfilment that comes from living an obedient life is not possible apart from Scripture. The Word reveals how God thinks and what He does. It is in the Word we discover the guiding principles for successful life. God told Joshua: “THIS BOOK of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way PROSPEROUS, and then you will have good SUCCESS” (Jos.1:8). Going by the Book makes the difference between prosperity and poverty; success and failure!

The Bible is life’s service manual, written by our Creator and Redeemer through inspired authors. Knowing us thoroughly, He shows us how to succeed, not by this world’s standards but by His standards. His manual defines our real problem as sin, and provides God’s solution – faith in Jesus as Lord and Saviour. The Book tells us how Jesus died and rose to pay sin’s penalty, assuring us that the indwelling Holy Spirit will fill and transform us into the image of Christ as we yield to Him. It presents sound principles and instructions which, when applied, help us to live wisely and profitably. Blessed is the person who consults the Manual of Life daily: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly…but his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law he meditates day and night” (Psa.1:1-2).

Every time we must make a decision, it’s good to sift through the gems in God’s Word: “Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established” (Pro.4:26). At life’s junctions or when we face challenges, the wise step is to dig into the Bible to answer the question, What would the Lord have me do? Those who choose to be guided by the Bible – Life’s Manual, rather than carnal reason, human opinions or worldly wisdom, will definitely be rewarded richly as they WALK in the WORD!