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 Psalm 9:1 I will praise thee, O Lord.Praise should always follow answered prayer; as the mist of earth's gratitude rises when the sun of heaven's love warms the ground. Hath the Lord been gracious to thee, and inclined his ear to the voice of thy supplication? Then praise him as long as thou livest. Let the ripe fruit drop upon the fertile soil from which it drew its life. Deny not a song to him who hath answered thy prayer and given thee the desire of thy heart. To be silent over God's mercies is to incur the guilt of ingratitude; it is to act as basely as the nine lepers, who after they had been cured of their leprosy, returned not to give thanks unto the healing Lord. To forget to praise God is to refuse to benefit ourselves; for praise, like prayer, is one great means of promoting the growth of the spiritual life. It helps to remove our burdens, to excite our hope, to increase our faith. It is a healthful and invigorating exercise which quickens the pulse of the believer, and nerves him for fresh enterprises in his Master's service. To bless God for mercies received is also the way to benefit our fellow-men; "the humble shall hear thereof and be glad." Others who have been in like circumstances shall take comfort if we can say, "Oh! magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together; this poor man cried, and the Lord heard him." Weak hearts will be strengthened, and drooping saints will be revived as they listen to our "songs of deliverance." Their doubts and fears will be rebuked, as we teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. They too shall "sing in the ways of the Lord," when they hear us magnify his holy name. Praise is the most heavenly of Christian duties. The angels pray not, but they cease not to praise both day and night; and the redeemed, clothed in white robes, with palm-branches in their hands, are never weary of singing the new song, "Worthy is the Lamb." Daily Light on the Daily Path Lamentations 3:26 It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the LORD.Psalm 77:9 Has God forgotten to be gracious, Or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion? Selah. Psalm 31:22 As for me, I said in my alarm, "I am cut off from before Your eyes"; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications When I cried to You. Luke 18:7,8 now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? • "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" Proverbs 20:22 Do not say, "I will repay evil"; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you. Psalm 37:7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. 2 Chronicles 20:17 You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the LORD is with you." Galatians 6:9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. James 5:7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. 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