For Ladies: Leaning And Loving God's Law
Nita Faye Leach
Before we can live God’s law, we must learn God’s law. The Jews who lived under the Old Testament law understood this concept. Deuteronomy 6:5-9 gives instructions for them to follow: instill the Law in their hearts and in the hearts of their children. The law was so important God did not want them to forget or neglect any of it.
We are still under a law called the New Testament law. However, if we do not have it in our hearts, it is of no use to us. We cannot read Psalms 119 without seeing the effects the precepts should have on us (verse 105).
Learning begins in childhood. This is why our classes for children are so important. Their minds are hungry for information. We must make sure their brains are fed with good information from God’s Word. Our attitudes toward God’s Word are reflected in our children. These attitudes are observed and reinforced by Bible Class teachers (verse 66).
These classes are important for adults too. The adult Bible classes help us “grow-up” in Christ.
Our knowledge is reinforced by preachers. Many times the preacher will discuss the very subject we have been studying. His discussion may help us. It will either reinforce our understanding, or it may clear up our thinking. It may even provoke us to study some more (verse 73).
We also learn by our personal studies. Learning involves teaching, and teaching involves learning. We cannot teach without learning (verse 33). We will spend the rest of our lives studying and learning God’s Word. I believe we should plan some time every day to study. The Bible becomes our daily friend; therefore, God becomes our special friend, dearer than any other (verse 18). If we talk to the Lord in prayer each day, should we not want to hear from Him? What we learn of earthly things will stay here on this earth, but what we learn of God’s law we will take with us to Heaven (Matthew 6:20-21).
The more we know of God’s law the more we love it. We grow in love with God as we use and study and learn more about His word. We learn what He does for us, from the creation, to the cross, to our future home with Him in Heaven. The key to loving God is meditation. It is mentioned seven times in this Psalm. We must read a passage many times before the importance of the text really sinks into our minds. When we meditate on the Word of God, it stays in our minds and influences our lives. Meditating causes us to stop and think (Psalms 1:1-2 & Psalms 119:15).
God’s Word is our sword (Ephesians 6:17), and, by our obedience to it, we can be forgiven. What a wonderful blessing that is. How can we not love it?
The Word of God counsels us on the laws (verse 105). We are enlightened by it (Psalms 19:8). Christ counsels us through His word. He is our advocate (lawyer) (1 John 2:1). I am happy to know Christ is representing me before our Father. With Him pleading our case, can we lose? He advises us through Paul to always give the praise to God (Colossians 3:17).
We have learned to love the commandments of God (verse 47). If you love the commandments of God, you love God (1 John 4:19).
Oh, how I love God’s law! -PO Box 207, Moundsville, WV 26041.