Faith Roots with Pastor Willie George

If you are going to walk with God, you must guard your mind and heart from three destructive influences. These three negative characters appear in descending order: the ungodly, then the sinner, finally the scornful. All are without God, but there are degrees of unrighteousness revealed here.

There are six comparisons on this list, but the fear of the Lord is not like the other five. The fear, or respect, of the Lord is the effect that the other five have on us as we observe them. The ungodly people rarely, if ever, stop to consider what God thinks about their choices. We fear God because we see the amazing grace and generosity He has demonstrated to us in the gift of His Son. How can we expect Him to be happy with us if we thumb our noses at His gift?

Unjust laws and rules are not pure. They were given, not to point people in the right direction, but to give power to the corrupt lawgivers. The Lord’s commandments are like the instructions that come with products that require assembly. The little finger is a great picture of God’s instructions because the lights come on as we follow what we’ve been instructed to do, one step at a time. Step-by-step instructions become clear only when they are completed. You cannot follow God’s instructions without trust because His full intent is revealed only when you complete the last step.

The laws of God are not just a set of rules; they are the revealing of His ways. You cannot have a deep relationship with a person without knowing their ways. God has ways of thinking, and He reveals those ways in His written Word. The index finger is the finger that we use to indicate direction. It is associated with “the way.”

The laws of the Lord, the testimonies of the Lord, the commandments of the Lord, the fear of the Lord, and the judgments of the Lord are a perfect representation of the human hand! God shows us His handiwork in creation but extends His hand to us through the written Word.

David tells us that though there is no audible communication, the heavens preach a message to the entire world, showing the handiwork of God.

The twelve constellations that we know today as the zodiac were recognized in the ancient world. The Hebrew name for these signs in the heavens is “Mazzaroth.” Some scholars believe that they were first identified by Enoch, who used them to declare the redemptive plan of God.

Psalm 103:6 says that vindication is a benefit for those who walk with God. Obviously, this blessing does not fall on everyone because it is conditional. It is a benefit that must not be forgotten.

This passage reveals one of the greatest blessings of God - renewal in old age. God is faithful to His children in every stage of life. His blessings allow us to be younger than our years. Too many people age prematurely, and much of the reason is due to an incorrect mental attitude. Only God can help us to counter this.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul: and forget not all His benefits...who satisfies thy mouth with good things" (Ps. 103: 2, 5). We pass more words through our lips than we pass bites of food...the keyword in verse five is “satisfies.”

Favor belongs to us even as we are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Don’t expect everyone you meet to treat you unfavorably!