Marie’s daily verse: Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded (James 4:8).

DAILY DEVOTION, December 3, 2022

Teach me Your statutes. Make me to understand the way of Your precepts; then I shall contemplate on Your wondrous works (Psalm 119:26-27).

This is the prayer of a true believer under the old covenant. The same phenomenon happens to us under the New Covenant. When our faith in Jehovah (Jesus) is sincere, we have a new relationship with the commands of God. We understand that His commandments are intended to bless those who obey. The commands of God are not given to make us miserable. Misery comes when we disregard the commands of God. God wants to provide us with a full and meaningful life. His statues and precepts are given for that purpose.

As we seek to live in obedience to the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount, we are on the path leading to divine blessing. We don’t obey the commands of God to earn God’s favor. We have already received God’s favor when we trusted His Son, our Savior. Trust leads to salvation. Obedience leads to a meaningful life. So, as we sing in church, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

Father, I adore Your gracious commands. Please help me to understand and follow them. I know Your commands are not given to make me unhappy but to generate in me the greatest joy. I thank You, especially for Jesus, whose forgiveness has set me free to obey You. In His name, I pray, Amen.