Psalm 119:101

Psalm 119:101

Keep away from evil paths

It is a torturous journey that those who love the Lord are bidden to take. How simple life would be if there stretched before us a beautiful, tree-lined, motorway, stretching as far as the eye can see and offering no deviations or alternative junctions. Sadly, that does not describe the journey of life, particularly the journey that those who want to grow in their faith must take. For us, the route is often slow and ponderous, with endless twists and turns and often rocky outcrops and ravines that have to be negotiated if progress is to continue.

The most difficult decisions are the ones that have to be made at crossroads and when a by-road opens up offering an easier and much more scenic route. Too often, we find ourselves attracted by the views on offer and the possibility of “comfort breaks” where very many attractions are on display and there are a thousand reasons to stop and linger. Not all of these side tracks are evil but some are deliberately constructed to lure us off track, Gambling, pornography, alcohol, a nice rest in comfortable accommodation that delays further progress, secret liaisons, dishonest gain ….. the list is endless because the enticements to leave the main path are endless.

Unlike most of us, the author of the Psalm has noticed many of these allurements on his journey but has kept himself pure and righteous and has not strayed from the path. His motivation to keep going, without hesitation or deviation, has been his overriding desire to obey the Word of God. If only we could all say that we are similarly motivated, and we have never been tempted to turn off the main route! If only a longing to obey God’s Word was the single driving force that kept us moving forwards.

 

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