Christ Church Daily Devotion Jan 2 2024

The speaker begins by reading from Psalm 119:97-105, expressing love for God's law and the benefits of meditating on it. They emphasize the importance of God's word as a guiding light in a spiritually dark world. The speaker highlights the role of God's word in understanding right from wrong and living confidently for God each day. They encourage the listener to immerse themselves in God's word for guidance in making choices. The transcript concludes with a personal prayer to spend more time in God's word in the new year. Welcome to Christchurch's Daily Devotion for January 2nd, 2024. Today we will be reading from Psalm chapter 119, verses 97 through 105. O how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands are always with me, and make me wiser than my enemies. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. I have kept my feet from every evil path, so that I might obey your word. I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth. I gain understanding from your precepts, therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. We live in a spiritually dark world where our souls are often in peril. In this section of Psalm 119, the psalmist declares that God's word is a light for our path, for living in this dark world. The psalmist vows to use God's word to shine a light on his path. He is not suggesting that God's word shines a light on the future, as if he could sneak a peek into events that would take place tomorrow or next year. He is saying that God's word helps him to understand right from wrong as he faces choices today. He is saying God's word teaches the meaning of obedience, so that he can live confidently for God in his world each day. Like the psalmist, we too need God's word to guide our steps. Only God's word can correctly inform us about the meaning of right and wrong. And the truth is, the more deeply steeped we are in God's word, the more clearly we can discern right from wrong and choose the right path. In some places, you walk today. You may need a flashlight, but in every place you go, you will need God's word as a lamp for your feet and a light for your path. Today's personal worship option. Father God, thank you for your word. In this new year, help me to spend more time in your word, so that I know how to live for you in a dark world. Amen.