Precept Upon Precept

“Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders” (Psalm 119:27)

Does this make any sense to you? It kind of sounds like which came first; the chicken or the egg. Are we influenced by His creation, the beauty and the blessings or do we want to know the rules of how to live in such a place? Do we worship Him because of what He can do or for Who He is?

I guess that the first thing we should do is get a definition of precept. Google says, “It is a guiding principle or rule that is used to control, influence or regulate conduct.” Examples are the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20:2-17.

From the very first book, Genesis, God has shared His expectations as well as His blessings. Unfortunately, everyone was more interested in the blessings and ignored the groundwork that He was trying to lay for all future generations.

While we know the ending of this story, I think there are times when we still seek the blessings before we understand the how’s and why’s. We tend to want to run before we can crawl and toddle around. I can liken this to teaching children to read. Any child can memorize a word but that is not reading. The child must learn to recognize each letter and the sound it makes; then they learn vowel sounds and begin the process of putting all the letters together. It takes years to understand when to use phonetical guidelines and to read without hesitation or error.

Our education and social skills are obtained precept upon precept and so is out spiritual growth. Think about how unfair/unkind it would be to throw a new believer into a group of doctrinal clergy, and expect that person to offer a profound statement of faith. 

Could this be a reason that our Bible studies are not bursting at the seams? Are we so engrossed in diving into the deep waters that we forget that there are those who do not yet know how to swim? Just a thought!

Construction begins below the ground. We would be rolling with belly laughs if we saw a house being built with the landscaping being completed before the basic structure was in place. I know that is a silly example but sometimes our expectations are just not realistic. 

Step by step we go! Step by step we grow!

Oh God You Are My God (originally by M.W. Smith)

Father God, teach me Your precepts that I may more enjoy the wonders that You have created. Please help me to show grace and patience to others as they learn at their own speed. AMEN.