Bible League: Living His Word "My God, I am happy to do whatever you want.I never stop thinking about your teachings." In the great scheme of things, what significance do the teachings of God in the Bible have for you? Do they take up a central place in your life, or do they have a place somewhere on the periphery of your cares and concerns? Have you re-ordered your life and your thinking about life in terms of biblical teachings, or have you merely added them to whatever store of thinking you already had about life? Further, are you happy to change your life in terms of biblical teaching, or is that kind of change too extreme or too difficult for you? Are you happy to do what God wants, as defined in the Bible, or do you bend the meaning of the Bible, or ignore some of it, in order to accommodate your life as you presently live it? Indeed, do you even take the time to find out what the Bible actually has to say about life? The author of the book of Hebrews believes that Psalm 40:8 is referring to Jesus (Hebrews 10:7). Jesus, in effect, is taken to be speaking in the psalm. And Jesus makes it quite clear where He stands on these matters. First of all, Jesus believes that the teachings of God are so important that He never stops thinking about them. God's teachings should have a central place in life because there isn't anything in life to which they do not apply. If you are going to think correctly about life as a whole, if you are going to re-order your life on a proper basis, then you must think about the teachings of God and you must take them seriously. Secondly, Jesus is happy to do what God wants, as defined by God's teachings. It makes no difference if this is thought to be too extreme or too difficult, for it must be done. Jesus made no attempts to bend the meaning of God's teachings, or ignore some of them, in order to live life on His own terms and according to His own thinking. Jesus was happy to find out what God has to say about life and He was happy to do it. God's teachings in the Bible define the meaning and purpose of human existence. It follows that they should have a central place of importance in our lives. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJeremiah 27, 28 Jeremiah 27 -- Judah Will Submit to Nebuchadnezzar NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Jeremiah 28 -- Hananiah Falsely Prophesies the Return of the Vessels NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 2 Timothy 4 2 Timothy 4 -- Timothy Encouraged to Preach the Word; Final Remarks NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.Insight When Paul spoke of “these things,” he was referring to his credentials, credits, and successes. After showing that he could beat the Judaizers at their own game—being proud of who they were and what they had done—Paul showed that it was the wrong game. Challenge Be careful of considering past achievements so important that they get in the way of your relationship with Christ. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Songs 8:13 Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it.My sweet Lord Jesus remembers well the garden of Gethsemane, and although he has left that garden, he now dwells in the garden of his church: there he unbosoms himself to those who keep his blessed company. That voice of love with which he speaks to his beloved is more musical than the harps of heaven. There is a depth of melodious love within it which leaves all human music far behind. Ten of thousands on earth, and millions above, are indulged with its harmonious accents. Some whom I well know, and whom I greatly envy, are at this moment hearkening to the beloved voice. O that I were a partaker of their joys! It is true some of these are poor, others bedridden, and some near the gates of death, but O my Lord, I would cheerfully starve with them, pine with them, or die with them, if I might but hear thy voice. Once I did hear it often, but I have grieved thy Spirit. Return unto me in compassion, and once again say unto me, "I am thy salvation." No other voice can content me; I know thy voice, and cannot be deceived by another, let me hear it, I pray thee. I know not what thou wilt say, neither do I make any condition, O my Beloved, do but let me hear thee speak, and if it be a rebuke I will bless thee for it. Perhaps to cleanse my dull ear may need an operation very grievous to the flesh, but let it cost what it may I turn not from the one consuming desire, cause me to hear thy voice. Bore my ear afresh; pierce my ear with thy harshest notes, only do not permit me to continue deaf to thy calls. Tonight, Lord, grant thine unworthy one his desire, for I am thine, and thou hast bought me with thy blood. Thou hast opened mine eye to see thee, and the sight has saved me. Lord, open thou mine ear. I have read thy heart, now let me hear thy lips. Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 19:12 Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; Galatians 5:7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? Philippians 1:6,27 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. • Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; James 3:5,6 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! • And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. 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