I’ve always sort of dismissed verse 4 because I was five
when I was saved. Although I remember the event clearly, I don’t remember a
passionate excitement about it. I’ve always loved God so I can’t look back and
point to a “first” love. But recently Pastor Tim preached from this passage,
encouraging us to return to our first love. At the same time, I’ve been
spending a lot of time listening to lectures and reading books about doctrine.
I love it and it’s intellectually satisfying, but I’ve felt a little something
missing.
So I’ve looked back to see what I loved about God when I was
young. As a child, I loved the Bible stories. David and
Goliath, Daniel and the lions den, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery
furnace, Jonah and the whale . . . So my very first love was the story of God’s
interactions with His people.
When I was in high school I made a commitment to read the
Bible every day. I had already read it all the way through once (unfortunately
so I could boast about it), but now I read a chapter a day and tried to learn
from it. It was during this time that I fell in love with the words. As a kid I
had memorized all the well known passages: the beatitudes, Psalm 23, the Lord’s prayer, the love chapter, the fruit of the Spirit. So the rhythms and poetry of
the words were familiar and comforting. I discovered more passages to love:
Psalm 1, Romans 8, Romans 12, Philippians 4, all of I John.
I started reading these passages for comfort and
inspiration, but I also picked up my Bible when I had free time and read them
for the sheer pleasure the words brought. In college I got a Harper Study Bible
in the Revised Standard Version. I went through my old King James to find my
favorite passages and underlined them in my new Bible. And as I read it, I used
the cross references to find more amazing passages. I really was in love.
So I do have a first love to return to. I still love the
Bible and study it every day, but I want to go back to the days when I just
read it for pleasure, for joy.
Today I’m reading in the King James version – and you are
too if you’re following my links - because those were the words I fell in love
with. Here is one of those beloved passages from Psalm 19.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:
the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise
the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the
heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the
judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than
much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in
keeping of them there is great reward.
No comments:
Post a Comment