Our scripture this morning is Psalm 119:17-24.
“Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me. My soul is crushed with longing After Your ordinances at all times. You rebuke the arrogant, the cursed, Who wander from Your commandments. Take away reproach and contempt from me, For I observe Your testimonies. Even though princes sit and talk against me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes. Your testimonies also are my delight; They are my counselors.”
The psalmist speaks lovingly of God’s word to us, of how important it is to live by the guidance we are given. He feels blessed to have this instruction and so should we. We may think of scripture as God’s word, and it is, but as important as that is, there is much more to it.
The opening of the Gospel of John tells us “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God” (John 1:1). We understand from the next verses that this was Jesus, present at creation and an essential part of the process. John goes on to testify that nothing was made without Him.
God’s word is much more than just instructions to us on how to live. It is an essential part of our being, how we were made. It is how we are connected to God and each other. We can ignore scripture (at our peril) but we cannot deny the very presence of God in us.
Heavenly Father, thank You for choosing us to be part of Your plan for creation. Strengthen us by Your grace and send us into the world to share Your love. Amen.