Full Devotion to Christ
The world is a desperately needy place, and every advertisement, for every product or service, promises satisfaction upon purchase. We opt for our portion of education, business, entertainment, etc., but the Psalmist is wiser, “The Lord is my portion (Ps 119:57).”
Augustine famously prayed, “Lord, give me Yourself.” There is no satisfaction in anything else, when He Himself is our rest. There is no co-mingling; it is either all or nothing. Woe to the lukewarm, who ride the proverbial fence. Let our devotion be full, for anything less, leaves us wanting. We wrestle for the full blessing of the whole Christ.
David knew the place of fullness, “I have promised to keep Thy words (119:57b).” In the Spirit, who teaches us God’s written Word, we gain the Word incarnate (Jn 1:14) and glorified (Jn 13:31). Communion with God is how we enjoy Him, forever. We pray. We read and meditate. His Word is life to those who believe (1 Jn 1:1), and the greater meditation on God’s Word, the greater our faith becomes.
The blood of Christ has brought us into favor with God, and as an adopted child (Rom 8:15), “I entreated Your favor with my whole heart (119:58a).” Why? How? God has been merciful to His beloved, according to His Word (119:58b). Therefore, Christians boldly go before His throne of mercy (Heb 4:16), seeking His favor. We seek not the gifts He often gives, but we seek the Giver Himself. We trust in His providence for the supply of every holy want and daily bread, too.
Having walked in the ways of the sons of disobedience (Eph 2:2), it is His illumination that helps us see our course, on the wide way of destruction. “I thought on my ways (119:59a),” is pure grace. Like the prodigal in a far away land, who came to his senses, so is the child of God who turns his feet to His Father’s testimonies (119:59b). This is the grace of God granting repentance (Acts 5:31; 10:18).
Our first turn to God is followed by ten thousand more. Apart from Christ, we can do nothing (Jn 15:5), but His grace proves sufficient in every situation. Wisdom teaches us to turn with the slightest misalignment, “I made haste and delayed not to keep Thy commandments (119:60).”
While it is yet called, “Today,” our path should be to Christ Jesus. It is the devil’s work to ensnare you, Christian, and he has set many traps in his world system (1 Jn 2:15–17). Begin the day with Christ, then, end the day with Christ, while walking with Him every step in between! Note every languishing spirit and moments of distraction, and delay not to call upon His Name (Joel 2:32).
Vigilance in the things of God will keep you vigilant. Redeem the time. Set your mind. Sing to the Lord. Pray without ceasing. Stir up the gift of God. Take the next step. It is His Spirit, who guides you and revives you, as you acknowledge Him in all your ways.
If the Lord is my portion, then those who rob me of wealth and worldly possessions are ministers of good to me (119:61a). It is in one’s darkest hour that the Law of the Lord is recalled with greatest effect (119:61b). God’s Word informs the child of God that every good gift and perfect gift comes down from Him (Jas 1:17). In this, you may have nothing, but you still own everything. He is your able provider, and He sustains all things by the Word of His power (Heb 1:3). Paul considered the gain of anything, other than the knowledge of Christ, to be a loss (Phil 3:7). How about you?
“At midnight, I will give thanks unto You; because of Your righteous judgments (119:62).” Thus, meditating on God’s Word, night and day, will have its good effect. If the Lord is my portion, then I will give thanks.
Gratitude is the right response to God, who always does right. Counting one’s blessings is a sure way to ensure that thanksgiving to God is evident in all things. This gratitude includes the fact that we are not alone in our faith.
“I am a companion, of all them that fear You and keep Your precepts (119:63).” For this reason, we do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the bad habit of some (Heb 10:25). The Father is in union with the Son (Jn 14:11), and we have union with Him in the Spirit (1 Cor 1:9; Gal 3:27). If the Lord is my portion, then He is the portion for all who are in Christ Jesus. Christianity, therefore, is not a religion. It is a fellowship of God and those who keep His precepts. We have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16), as one body (Eph 4:4), who share in a common future (1 Thess 4:17). We are family.
Our God is a merciful God (Rom 9:16; 11:32), who has shown mercy to His saints. This mercy, in its fullness, reaches the ends of the earth (119:64), where He gathers His elect from every nation, tribe, and tongue (Rev 5:9). What is mercy? Where is mercy? To whom is mercy? To answer these and other questions, David prays, “Teach me Your statutes (119:64).” To learn the Bible is a grace and a privilege.
In conclusion, we acknowledge the holistic life approach to God. It is all-encompassing, touching every aspect of our being. The unbeliever deems this a wasted life (Ps 14:1; 1 Cor 1:18). Others fail at their effort to have the best of both worlds.
Can you say with David, “The Lord is my portion?” Access to the Lord is in the Spirit, which means the Christian can live all day, everyday, before His merciful throne. “More of Jesus,” is the Christian’s plea. May God grant Himself, as your portion, and may your satisfaction and rest be the same, yesterday, today, and forever.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
June 29, 2022
