“See how I love Your precepts; preserve my life, O LORD, according to Your love.” -Psalm 119:159

We love Him because He first loved us. Christians love God because He has placed a desire within us to seek His face. Do you remember how Jacob wrestled with the angel and would not let him go until he was given a blessing? The way we “wrestle” with God is through His Word. The truth of His precepts are given to us to engage Him. This is how we learn from Him and of Him. Once we encounter the Living God, we wrestle with His standard of holiness, coming face to face with our sin because we cannot measure up. Confession and repentance follow. In His mercy, Christians receive the blessing of their salvation. Just as Jacob was given the blessing of a new name, Israel, we too have a new nature in Christ. As you and I grow in grace, His words become sweeter, His fellowship our most treasured relationship.

This is the psalmist’s third and final request for preservation. The way he phrases this verse is a reflection of mutual love with His Father. The psalmist has declared his love of the Lord’s commands, then desires to keep them with more grace, more love, more awakening to the deeper and true. Then the psalmist adds that this request be fulfilled according to God’s love for him. Every Christian can confidently repeat this petition knowing very well how securely loved we are by our Heavenly Father. The Lord is faithful to preserve and grow His children in the grace we ask for. 

Grace upon grace,

April 

Growing deeper: Genesis 32:9-32; 1 John 4:13-21

My friend Anna sent this song to me. It’s very good so I wanted to share it with you too!