Tuesday - October 16, 2007

Psalm 40:8:

      I delight to do your will O my God, your law is within my heart.

How often have we heard, or been taught that to do the will of God is difficult, even grievous. We have images in our mind that to say "yes" to God means living in a grass or mud hut in some desolate country or island. This verse is telling us that when God's Word is in our heart, it is a delight to do the will of God.

The Hebrew word for “will” is ratson. It means pleasurable or even joyous. Do you understand what this verse is saying? It is even joyous for God to see us accomplish His will. The will of God is joyous in God's sight and a delight for us to do. This verse is really a play on words. "O my God, I get happy when I make you happy."

Quit thinking of sorrow and begin to imagine having the time of your life doing God's will. If you accept God's will for the moment, or even your life, He drops the desire to do it in your heart. His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

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Thursday - October 11, 2007

Paul told the Corinthians to desire spiritual gifts, but he would show them a more excellent “way” (1 Corinthians 12:13). The Greek word for way is hodos. It could be better translated as “road.” He would show them a more excellent way, a better road.

In the ancient world, people would usually build private roads from their homes to whatever destination they wanted to go to. They would dig the road just for themselves and no one else could use it. The Romans came up with a new idea: the highway. It was created and maintained by the government, a public road from city to city. The people would then build their houses just off the public road and dig a short road to it. Today we would call that short road a driveway leading to the public street. It was a revolutionary idea to join other people traveling down the same road. New friendships began on the more excellent road.

We can all desire spiritual gifts, but the greatest road we can travel is not the road of our own desires and needs, but the greater road of love. We should desire the spiritual gifts so we can bless others nor gain notoriety for ourselves. We should desire spiritual gifts to minister to the most people possible. We are in this for others, not ourselves.

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