Psalm 119:31
I cling to your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame! Psalm 119:31
Please bear with me on this story, but I pictured the fuel gauge on my car’s dashboard and thought about the needle showing whether the tank is “Full” or “Empty.” Right!
But what if the gauge showed “Full” or “Full.” While that might be confusing, it is true. Realistically, the tank is either “Full” of gasoline or “Full” of air.
But the thing that matters is my car needs gasoline to run so I want it “Full” of gas (or “petrol” as a friend say).
But so are our hearts. We are either “Full” of the Spirit, or we are “Full” of ourselves. Like my car’s gas tank, my heart is never empty. I either have what I need to pursue a life of full of the Spirit or I lack that only to find myself pursuing a life of “self.” Either “Your kingdom come, Your will be done…” or “my kingdom come, my will be done.”
So “I cling to your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame!” and find myself running onto the side of the road due to my pride and shameful actions. Something like the Parable of the Ten Virgins.
Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. — Matthew 25:1-13 ESV
Now, I know that for too many years I was like the five foolish ones mentioned above and I did not cling to the testimonies of God and was full of myself. That is where God found me.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved — Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV.
I am so very thankful that God chose to reveal Himself to me and rescued me from my agenda, my selfishness, my self-determination, my pride, and self-focus. And He is faithful to continue to reveal His testimonies to me and take away my shame.
…looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. — Hebrews 12:2 ESV
In session application questions:
In what ways am I still not embracing God’s testimonies?
In what ways is my shame still clinging to me?
How can I cling to God’s testimonies and become willing to release the shame?
Out of session homework:
Try reading short sections of the Bible asking God to reveal Himself to you even in small ways, then write those things down.
Read Revelation 21 & 22 and think about that being the last chapter of your story.
Compare how you feel when you are hopeless and when you are hopeful. What thoughts and insights come to mind?
Father, reveal Yourself to us. Show us more of who You are through Your Word. Make all things clear to us. We cling to your truth so that we may not be put to shame. Redeem our lives to Your glory and our good.
Burke Care is here to help. We want to experience the fullness of the Gospel in your life and in a solid biblical community. Call today and we would love to aid you in becoming all that God has for you.
