How Will You Respond?

When the word of God is your lamp and light, when it’s purity is making you pure, and when it’s truth is sanctifying you, how will you respond when you face:

Sin. You will cease from sin.  Ps 119:9-11, 101, 133.  Your attitude toward sin changes as you keep his commandments.  It’s not that your flesh doesn’t still war against your spirit or that sin in your members quits enticing you, it’s that you see sin for what it really is and decide to resist it.  See 1 Pet 4:1-5.

Reproach. You will keep his testimonies.  Ps 119:21-24, 157, 161.  When “princes” speak against you, like they did against the apostles, you will not err from his commandments.  You will stand like they did.  Ps 119:41-46.  You will speak unashamedly like the apostles did.  And you will wait for the Lord’s salvation, Ps 119:84-87, 119.

The Wicked.  You will be grieved.  Ps 119:53, 136, 139, 158.  This is the attitude Paul had toward Israel and Jeremiah had toward Judah.  Rather than disdain them, we should be grieved and seek to preach the gospel to them that they might be saved.

Affliction.  You will turn to his words.  Ps 119:67, 71, 75-76, 92.  Affliction, whether it is ordinary and common or whether it is the chastening of the Lord, should turn you closer to God, not further away.

False ways, vain thoughts, and lying .  You will hate these.  Ps 119:104, 113, 128, 163.  You will hate it when you see it in others.  But, more so, you will hate it in yourself.

Offenses.  You will let nothing offend you.  Ps 119:165.  Christians are far too easily offended by petty things.  But not so when you love God’s words.

Conclusion: So, how will you respond?  You should respond like the. Psalmist in Ps 119.  When you do, you will love his words above all earthly pleasure and treasure, Ps 119:72, 103, 127. And you will be among others who have followed the same path that you have taken. You will be a companion of those who fear the Lord, Ps 119:63, 74, 79.