Living by the Book
Posted On September 27, 2016
Midterms are right around the corner here at Reformation Bible College. Amid the stress of exams and everyday life, last week’s chapel message was timely. Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III, chancellor and CEO of Reformed Theological Seminary, taught from the end of Psalm 119 on what it means to be people who live according to God’s Word.
Dr. Duncan showed that living by the Word is a life of prayer, a life of distress, and a life of joy and praise. This is Christian living—life in the midst of suffering. It is during the hardest times that God makes us more dependent upon Him.
Living by the Book also means delighting in God’s commands. Though we walk in the way of the Lord (Ps. 119:1), we often go astray (v. 176), which is why the psalmist cries out to God, “Seek your servant.” Like the shepherd who seeks the lost sheep, God finds us and brings us back.
We are to love God’s Word, but as Dr. Duncan pointed out, “We never love the Word to where we no longer need God to come find us.” When we find ourselves in moments of distress, we are to pray like the psalmist, “Lord, come find me!” and He will help us in our time of need.