A Soul Consumed with Longing

October 5

(Psalm 119:17-11 NIV) “Do good to your servant, and I will live; I will obey your word. {18} Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. {19} I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me. {20} My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times. {21} You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed and who stray from your commands. {22} Remove from me scorn and contempt, for I keep your statutes.”

(James 1:17-25 NIV)  "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. {18} He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. {19} My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, {20} for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. {21} Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. {22} Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. {23} Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror {24} and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. {25} But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does."

We live in an age when our souls are besieged by predators. Power, prestige, money, success, status, anger, bitterness, anxiety, and addiction are deadly enemies that threaten to consume us. But it will be impossible for these predators to consume a soul that has already been consumed with longing for God and His word. The Enemy cannot steal what is not there for the taking. God used the word of truth to give us new birth. It has been planted in you. The word is a superb cloaking device. Hiding in it can cover our souls, and spare us from those enemies that seek to destroy us. In it you will find wisdom and blessing. Its healing balm can cleanse our souls. But we cannot merely read it and know it -- we must do what it says. Our cover is blown when we stray from obedience. Let your soul be consumed with longing for God’s word. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day