DATE: AUGUST 2, 2017

TEXT: PSALMS 119

TITLE: YOU ARE TO LAST TIL THE END BUT DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE COST

MESSAGE:

Psalms 119:33-34

33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statues, and I shall keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

REFLECTION:

“We should reckon ourselves to the duty of following God and His word to the end.” -Guzik

“The end of our keeping the law will come only when we cease to breathe; no good man will think of
marking a date and saying, ‘It is enough, I may now relax my watch, and live after the manner of
men.’” -Spurgeon

I always used to tell everyone that God didn’t save us and later we’d just go back to our old lives. He
saved us to restore of our relationship to Him, thus, giving us a life of abundance while we fulfill His
plans and purpose for us. Philippians 2:13 (NLT) says, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire
and the power to do what pleases him.” His saving grace wasn’t there for a moment rather it is
permanent and to keep you lasting to the end. But the only way to keep ourselves moving towards the
end is by having a teachable heart and ability to learn.

As Guzik said, “Without this understanding, the Psalmist could not follow the desire of his transformed
heart.”

Added to that, Spurgeon said, “The understanding operates upon the affections; it convinces the heart
of the beauty of the law, so that the soul loves it with all its powers; and then it reveals the majesty of
the lawgiver, and the whole nature bows before his supreme will.”

That being said, many believers didn’t make it to pursue their journey with God simply because of
becoming lax and careless at understanding the Word of God. Yes, they read the Word and yes their
probably do their devotionals but understanding to apply it doesn’t equal to simply browsing the Bible.
We know that life is tough, full of distractions and crowded with tons of trials and challenges.
Nevertheless, Jesus promised that He will give us life that is immeasurable, overflowing, abundant and
eternal (John 10:10, John 16:33). Now, if we wanna pursue this, we should learn how to count the cost
so we’d know how to face whatever circumstances that will come along our way. I think Luke 14:28-33
THE VOICE said it best,

28 Just imagine that you want to build a tower. Wouldn’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to be
sure you have enough to finish what you start?
29 If you lay the foundation but then can’t afford to finish the tower, everyone will mock you: 30 “Look at
that guy who started something that he couldn’t finish!”
31 Or imagine a king gearing up to go to war. Wouldn’t he begin by sitting down with his advisors to
determine whether his 10,000 troops could defeat the opponent’s 20,000 troops?
32 If not, he’ll send a peace delegation quickly and negotiate a peace treaty.
33 In the same way, if you want to be My disciple, it will cost you everything. Don’t underestimate
that cost!

APPLICATION:

COUNTING THE COST, AM I WILLING TO PAY AS A DISCIPLE OF JESUS?

WHAT COST HAVE YOU PAID TODAY?
DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE ALREADY PAID ENOUGH?

Wow!!! What a relevant question I’d have to ask myself everyday?

The cost is really high that’s the reason why it is payable with everything of you. That until you are
willing to give everything of you, becoming a disciple is of no relevant to you.

26 If any of you come to Me without hating your own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters,
and yes, even your own life, you can’t be My disciple.
27 If you don’t carry your own cross as if to your own execution as you follow Me, you can’t be part of
My movement. –Luke 14:26-27 The Voice