Author: Phil Rehberg

Great peace have those who love your law,and nothing can make them stumble. Psalms 119:165 (ESV) What is God’s law? Jesus said that loving God and loving others are the greatest laws, for, “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:40, ESV). He also said, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15, ESV). If we love Jesus’ “laws” then we will have peace, in other words, our hearts will be calm and harmonious. Remember that Jesus is our model and our source for the restoration of the image of God. We look to his life to learn what it means to be fully human again. So what kind of peace did Jesus have? He definitely had peace in his earthly life for he promised: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world Continue Reading →

But you are near, O LORD, and all your commandments are true. Psalms 119:151(ESV) The Psalmist knows that Yahweh (LORD) is near, yet he did not have God’s Spirit indwelling him, nor was he united with Christ, the incarnation of the Son. So how much more is it true for us that God is near? He is inside us, nearer than any human could be. “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16, ESV). “By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit” (1 John 4:13, ESV). What are the benefits of God being inside us? It means that we are united to him and that he is in on our side. He is aware of everything in our lives and guides us into his blessings. Regardless Continue Reading →

The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. Psalms 119:130 (ESV) We are born without an understanding of the truth. We cannot see the reality behind the physical world around us. But God had mercy on us and told us the truth, which showered light on our world so we could see the reality of God behind all things. Even better, his words are the path to reunion with him and the restoration of his image in us. Regardless of our education, we can be wiser than a university full of professors if we absorb and follow God’s words. God would not allow people with higher education to have a spiritual advantage over others. Instead, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise” (1 Cor. 1:27, ESV). How blessed are we that we have the words of God? The Old Testament Continue Reading →

103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 111 Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. Psalms 119:103, 111 (NIV) The Psalmist did not have the words of Jesus, yet the Old Testament law was a sweet joy to him. How much sweeter are the words of Jesus and his Apostles? How much more joy do we have in the words of mercy and love that fulfilled and perfected the Old Testament law? Jesus said, “blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:3, NIV). And “you are the light of the world” (Mt. 5:14, NIV). And “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Mt. 6:20). How more blessed can we be? We are the poor but we are the light of the world and we have an eternal treasure in Continue Reading →