Delight in His commandments
Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments. ~ Psalms 112:1
When this psalm was written, God’s people had over 600 commandments to follow. They were given during their time in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. These laws were designed to guide them in living holy lives and remaining in covenant with God. Yet, they also revealed their inability to live righteously on their own.
When Jesus came, He fulfilled the law and simplified it with one powerful command: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34). In delighting in this command, we fulfill all others.
There was a time in my life when I tried to keep God’s commandments on my own strength. I would strive, only to fall short again and again. I felt like a failure and carried the guilt of it. I was convinced that I wasn’t good enough. I thought righteousness was something I had to achieve by sheer willpower, not realizing it was impossible without God’s help.
The turning point came when I surrendered my struggles to the Lord Jesus and asked Him to show me the way. He reminded me of His Spirit, sent to empower us to live as He did. At first, I resisted the idea of loving others freely. I was afraid of being taken advantage of or losing everything I had. But God gently showed me that true love, the God kind of love, is a gift. When given freely, it cannot be exploited because it flows from a place of abundance in Him, not from my own limited resources.
As I began to follow the leading of God’s Spirit, I discovered that loving others wasn’t as hard as I once thought. It became a joy, a natural response to the love I had received from God. Loving others was no longer about obligation or fear but about walking in the footsteps of my Savior, showing His loving kindness and grace to the world.
Today’s Psalm describes the life of someone who delights in God’s commands and shows His love to the world around them:
- Blessed to be a blessing: Recognize that your blessings are meant to overflow into the lives of others.
- Wealth and riches for righteousness: Use your resources to advance God’s work and create a lasting impact for the kingdom of heaven.
- Light in darkness: Become a beacon of hope and truth in a world often overshadowed by despair.
- Gracious and compassionate: Show mercy and understanding to those in need. Recognize their blind and lost condition.
- Generosity in lending: Share what you have without expecting anything in return.
- Unshaken by circumstances: Stand firm in faith, knowing God is your foundation.
- Not afraid of bad news: Trust that God’s plans for you are good, even when challenges arise.
- Heart fixed on the Lord: Stay focused on God’s promises rather than worldly distractions.
- Impact beyond borders: Let your influence and love extend to the far corners of the earth through missions and ministry that can take it there.
- Give to the poor: Make caring for the vulnerable a priority.
- Exalted with honor: Trust that God will elevate you in His timing as you remain humble and obedient.
Here is where you can start today. By taking these simple steps, you will be starting on your journey of what it means to delight in Him!
- Spend Time in God’s Word: Meditate on Psalm 112 this week. Ask God to reveal specific ways you can live out His commandments.
- Choose One Act of Love Daily: Whether it’s encouraging a friend, helping a neighbor, or supporting a cause, look for opportunities to reflect God’s love.
- Pray for Guidance: Start each day by asking the Holy Spirit to show you how to walk in love and wisdom.
- Keep a Gratitude Journal: Write down ways you see God’s blessings in your life and how you’ve been able to bless others.
- Share Your Story: Encourage someone else by sharing how God has transformed your understanding of love and obedience.
Today I want to encourage you that as you delight in God’s commands and allow His Spirit to guide you, you’ll experience the blessings described in Psalm 112. Your life will shine as a testament to His goodness, and you’ll inspire others to follow Him. This is the only way that your righteousness (God’s good works) will last forever.
Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 112
1 Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments.
2 His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches will be in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
4 Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
5 A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion.
6 Surely he will never be shaken; The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.
7 He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is established; He will not be afraid, until he sees his desire upon his enemies.
9 He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be exalted with honor.
10 The wicked will see it and be grieved; He will gnash his teeth and melt away; The desire of the wicked shall perish.
The Daily Dose 