137 Righteous are you, O LORD, and your laws are right. 138 The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy. 139 My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore your words. 140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. 141 Though I am lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts. 142 Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true. 143 Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight. 144 Your statutes are forever right; give me understanding that I may live.

Gal 4:6-9

6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. 8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God-or rather are known by God-how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

If God is God, he is supreme and is the ultimate authority. If God is righteous then his word revealed to us is righteous and will only lead us to become like him. If he is holy then his every intention for us is that we become holy also. His word, the Bible, is given so we can become righteous as he is righteous and we can love as he loves us. He only wants what is best for us, now and in eternity.

Both his freedoms and his restraints are given so we can learn how to live. But not just live, he wants us to have an abundant life in Jesus Christ. His word reveals to us how we can be made righteous by the forgiveness offered in Jesus. Jesus did not die on the cross to just give us a bunch of rules. He died to show his love and the love of the Father for us. He died so we can be forgiven of our sin.

When we seek first the things of God and his righteousness, he has promised that we need never worry about the things of this life. As we die to the practice of sin, we learn to love the word of God and seek to practice his will. In his wisdom he has provided a way for us to have peace and joy in every circumstance.

O Lord God, my heavenly Father, I am so glad you love me. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be born into the family you chose for me. Thank you for parents who loved you and who taught me to love you and your word. Thank you for allowing me to be born into a country with freedoms and in a time that affords all of the advantages of technology we have today. Thank you for providing me with a way to be made righteous in Jesus Christ. Increase my faith so I will trust you and use my life for your glory. I pray in the name of Jesus my Savior.

Robert