7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb. (Psalm 19.7-10)
“But we must also allow scripture to stretch our reason back into shape. We must allow scripture to teach us how to think straight, because by ourselves we don’t; we think bent, we think crooked… Just so, the Spirit broods over us as we read this book, to straighten out our bent thinking; the world-views that have got twisted so that they are like the world’s world-views. God wants us to be people, not puppets; to love him with our mind as well as our soul and our strength. And it is scripture that enables us to do that: not by crushing us into an alien mould, but by giving us the fully authoritative four acts [i.e. the biblical story], and the start of the fifth [i.e. the story of the church in the world today], which set us free to become the church afresh in each generation.” (N.T. Wright, “How Can the Bible Be Authoritative? (The Laing Lecture for 1989)”)
Prayer: Lord, mold us, shape us according to your perfect will and word. By your Spirit, may we obey and live out your word. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Let’s sing “May the Words of My Mouth” (Tim Hughes). Click here.
–JP