What does your life say about God? Do you know that some Christians seems to go much further and deeper in their walk with God than others. Maybe because some Christians have completely sold-out to Jesus and they have committed themselves to pursue God until His presence is powerfully real in their lives.
There are some amazing examples of people that were sold-out to Jesus. One such example is King David, Israel’s greatest king. Acts 13:22 says, "After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'" Yet he was a mortal just like us. His life is indicative of his struggles with sin. Although he failed down, he always got up. Beneath his fall was always a faith that never failed.
In the Book of First Samuel, we see Samuel the Prophet being lead by God to the home of Jesse, the father of David, to anoint David as the future king of Israel. After Samuel inquired at the home of Jesse, Jesse paraded his boys minus David before Samuel in hopes of one of them being anointed the next king. God had prepared Samuel for this mission and what he was not to look for. Samuel was told, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature." After rejecting the first seven boys, Samuel asked, "Are all the young men here?" Jesse replied, "There remains yet the youngest." David was brought forward and immediately the spirit of God revealed that he was the one, and he was anointed by Samuel.
David was only a child at this time, it would be years before he would assume his kingship. It is interesting to see that David's preparation to be king and his love for God's word began here on the countryside. The shepherd boy accepted his lot with pride as he led the sheep of his father not knowing that one day his heavenly Father would entrust him with His flock, the nation of Israel.
Imagine, if you will, for a moment as David watched the flock and mediated on God's Word, that God was preparing David for a miraculous journey, bigger than life. In Psalm 1 we see the wisdom of David as he contrasted the spiritual man and the unspiritual man. In Psalm 23 we see David's abiding love for God. He began by recognizing God's supremacy over his life. According to Spurgeon, Psalm 23, "Is but a moment's opening of his soul."
Now this brings me to Psalm 119. Psalm 119 has 176 verses. It is the longest psalm and the longest chapter in the Bible. Every verse in it, except for two verses is praise to the Word of God. Some suggest that this Psalm was written by David because it appears to be his devout elevations of his soul to God. This wonderful Psalm describes any one of us who desires to follow hard after God. Verse 5 is the first verse as evidence of a life that is in passionate pursuit of God. "Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees." In this verse the Psalmist says it is my intention that my life reflect God's intention by illustrating His principles in my actions. This is intention of desire. What is meant here is that David has a deeper intention to live out God's way in every single action of every single day of his life. We are aware that our best intentions some times goes unfulfilled for whatever reasons. But this is not what David is talking about. He is talking about a character issue. He is expressing an internal desire to do what is right, to live the right way, and to make the right choices in life. Choices that reflect the very character of God in a person's life.
In the eleventh verse David said, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." My, my, what powerful words. This is an intention of commitment. What would force someone to make such a statement? Verse 5 also speaks of commitment with regard to desire and direction, but verse 11 speaks of an intention of the heart and soul that goes very, very deep. What David is basically saying, "I have incorporated your word, your law, your ways, God into the core of my being so that I will not intentionally do or say something that will separate me from your presence and especially from you. I want to hold deeply your word to my heart so that I will not be disobedient to you."
Quite frankly these days committing to such a commitment almost seems fanatical. But does it have to be? Is it fanaticism? Absolutely not! By hiding and concealing God's word in your heart, you can meet the pressure and stress of life with joy. The Holy Spirit helps you by comforting and strengthening you when you face difficulties. Jesus promised us that He would never leave us and the gift of the Holy Spirit would reside in us, providing us with peace and guidance in every situation.
You have to make a choice with your relationship with God, whether it will be a not just a casual or convenient one, but a complete one. You must make the decision to follow God wholeheartedly and to be obedient to God. You have to make this decision and keep making it over and over and over again, because you must keep deciding to passionately and wholeheartedly to follow God.
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