A Rewarding Relationship comes with Righteous Restrictions Part 2

February 12th, 2024

A Rewarding Relationship comes with Righteous Restrictions Part 2

Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies. Psalms 119:79

In last week’s Blog post, I postulated that a rewarding relationship starts with the redeemer (Jesus Christ the Lord) who lives, leads and is Lord of our lives. A relationship with Jesus is the most important relationship a person can have. Having a personal relationship with Jesus involves an absolute acknowledgment of your need for Him in your life. Furthermore, you have conceded that you are degenerate, disobedient and you are spiritually in dire straits and tied to a transgressor of God’s law status.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Psalms 14:3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that

doeth good, no, not one.

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of

the law.

Thus, a relationship with God requires faith and trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our

sins. And salvation is inextricably linked to the fear or reverential awe for God. And a biblical fear of the Lord will lead one (believer) to the scrutinization and some restrictions for one’s personal relationships.

In Psalm 119:79 the psalmist petitioned God for the proper relationships in his life. After careful

consideration of the text, we can perceive that the writer specifically spells out some criteria for

a rich, real, and rewarding relationship with others. The criteria or restrictions encompass a fear for the Lord and faithfulness and familiarity to God’s word.

Put frankly, “fearing” the Lord has a strong connection to obedience to God’s will. And it’s essential and exorbitantly rewarding when our connections (relationships) are predominately composed of people who fear the Lord and walk and worship in his word.

According to the scriptures, God’s people possessed and practiced obedient behavior. This was marked by a deliberate display of “fearing” Him, walking in His ways, and finding delight in His commands, and as a result they were proclaimed “blessed.”

Ps. 112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly

in his commandments.

Ps. 115:13 He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.

Ps. 128:1 Blessed is everyone that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.

These blessings are not eroded or exhausted but endure for those today who will promote and

be preoccupied with the personal practice “of fearing the Lord” and as a result have

experienced the immeasurable blessing and power of the scriptures in their lives.

In closing, the relationships that you invest should bless and not be a miserable mess. Sever yourself from the stress by implementing criteria for your connections.

Not a sermon just some thoughts.

FtGG