65.5 The Law Of God

(Psalm 119:9-16, 57-64)

How can a young man keep his life pure?
By obeying your commands.
With all my heart I try to serve you;
keep me from disobeying your commandments.
I keep your law in my heart,
so that I will not sin against you.
I praise you , O Lord; teach me your ways.
I will repeat aloud  all the laws you have given.
I delight in following your commands
more than in having great wealth.
I study your instructions; I examine your teachings.
I take pleasure in your laws;
your commands I will not forget.

You are all I want, O Lord;
I promise to obey your laws.
I ask you with all my heart
to have mercy on me,as you have promised!
I have considered my conduct,
and I promise to follow your instructions.
Without delay I hurry to obey your commands.
The wicked have laid a trap for me,
but I do not forget your law.
In the middle of the night I wake up
to praise you for your righteous judgments.
I am a friend of all who serve you,
of all who obey your laws.
Lord the earth is full of your constant love;
teach me your commandments.

65.4 If We Obey We Are United With God

(1 John 2:3-6)

If we obey God's commands, then we are sure that we know him.  If someone says that he  knows him, but does not obey his commands, such a person is a liar and there is no truth in him.. But whoever obeys his word is the one whose love for God has really been made perfect.  This is how we can be sure that we are in union with God: whoever says that he remains in union with God should live just as Jesus Christ did. 

65.3 Christ's Humility And Greatness

(Philippians 2:6-11)

He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force

he should try to become equal with God.

Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had,

and took the nature of a servant.

He became like man and appeared in human likeness.

He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death--his death on the cross.

For this reason God raised him to the highest place above

and gave him the name that is greater than any other name.

And so, in honor of the name of Jesus,all beings in heaven, on earth, 

and in the world below will fall on their knees,

and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

65.2 The Wicked Will Be Destroyed

(Daniel 8:23-27)

"When the end of those kingdoms is near and they have become so wicked that they must be punished, there will be a stubborn, vicious, and deceitful king.  He will grow strong--but not by his own power.  He will cause terrible destruction and be successful in everything he does.  He will bring destruction on powerful men and on God's own people.  Because he is cunning, he will succeed in his deceitful ways.  He will be proud of himself and destroy many people without warning.  He will even defy the greatest King of all, but he will be destroyed without the use of any human power. This vision about the evening and morning sacrifices which has been explained to you will come true.  But keep it secret now, because it will be a long time before it does come true."

I was depressed and ill for several days.  Then I got up and went back to the work that the king had assigned to me, but I was puzzled by the vision and could not understand it.

65.1 Obedience Is The Keeping Of The Covenant

(Exodus 19:3b-8)

The Lord called to Moses from the mountain and him to say to the Israelites, Jacob's descendants: "You saw what I, the Lord, did to the Egyptians and how I carried  you as an eagle carries her young on her wings, and brought you here to me. Now,if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own people.  The whole earth is mine., but you will be my chosen people, a people dedicated to me alone, and you will serve me as priests."  So Moses went down and called the leaders of the people together and told them everything that the Lord had commanded him.  Then all the people answered together, "We will do everything that the Lord has said," and Moses reported this to the Lord.