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When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to Your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep Your commandments. Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget Your law. (Psalm 119:59-61)
Many of us have experienced one of those embarrassing moments when the sidewalk just rises up for no reason to make us stumble and hit the ground. If no serious harm is done, we glance around and hope that no one witnessed the stumble. Then we continue on our way, being careful to mind our feet and keep an eye on that sidewalk. The psalmist is worried about more than uneven pathways. The “cords of the wicked” threaten to entangle and trip him. Yet he minds his feet. When he is tempted to do wrong, when he comes near to stumbling, he has the answer: “I hasten and do not delay to keep Your commandments.” Following the precious commandments of God, the psalmist remains upright and moving safely along the Lord’s righteous path.
The devil attempted to ensnare and entangle Jesus. The deadly foe wanted to turn the Lord’s feet from walking the path set out for Him by His Heavenly Father. Jesus did not forget God’s commandments, but used them to resist every attempt of the devil to turn Him from the Father’s will. Jesus did not stray from the path set out for Him, the path foretold in Scripture. The day finally came when He did stumble on that path, but our sinless Lord did not fall in disobedience. Jesus stumbled and fell beneath the heavy burden of the cross, yet for the sake of our salvation He did not turn away from the path that led to Golgotha.
Our crucified and risen Lord calls us to follow Him “in paths of righteousness” (Psalm 23:3b). When Satan tempts us and tries to entangle us in his lies, we turn again to the commandments of God. It is a way to “mind our feet” as we follow the Savior. We may at times wonder what to do in certain situations. We become confused and worried about the world in which we live or wonder how to respond to people we meet. In those circumstances, we keep our feet on the right path by looking to the wisdom of God’s Word. When the temptations of Satan, the world, and our own sinful desires threaten to ensnare us, we turn to God’s holy commandments. Through Baptism we have been raised to new life in Christ. We are God’s workmanship, each one of us His work of art, “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10b). With the help of the Holy Spirit, we seek each day to follow God’s commandments, the good works that He sets before us, like stepping stones in the paths of righteousness.
WE PRAY: Lord, help me to turn my hands and feet and heart to following Your righteous commandments. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
- Is there someone who has given you wise and helpful instruction for your life? Have you let them know your appreciation?
- What do you think walking “in paths of righteousness” means for day-to-day living?
- How long has it been since you’ve read through the Ten Commandments? You can go to Exodus 20 for a refresher.
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