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The Law and Joy


If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. (Psalm 119:92) 

          I don’t like rules. I don’t like people telling me what to do. I don’t like it when others make decisions for me without my input. I have absolutely no fear that I am alone in that dislike. Too many people like the song “My Way” for me to have doubts about that. At the same time, I like rules and definitions. I love knowing when I’m doing something right. It provides a strong sense of security. This is one of several reasons I don’t drink alcohol or take drugs. I can’t imagine deliberately trying to be out-of-control, or purposely doing something that will lead to my making a fool of myself in my own eyes. That’s not relaxing or fun.
          There is great comfort in knowing that if I do this that my father will be happy. It makes life easier to know that if I do that, my next-door neighbors will be pleased. I like knowing that actions I take help or encourage someone. It feels good to be right with people. When we don’t do this or that, when we aren’t encouraging or aren’t right with people, we tend to justify it with the idea that we’re obeying some higher law or exercising a greater virtue so that we still get that same feeling.
          That’s the thing we all tend to miss about God’s laws. We don’t want to be told what to do. We think of God as saying, “Do this or I’ll get you.” What if, instead, it’s, “Do this and you’ll get Me”? This is why God's laws are our foundation for joy.

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