Daily Devotion

March 27, 2006

Psa 119:100-102 KJV  I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.  (101)  I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.  (102)  I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.

This is the difference between a philosopher and a believer. The philosopher, from his lofty all-seeing vantage point acknowledges the goodness and even advantages in certain virtues, but the believers humbly get down to the brass-tacks of practicing them.  While the philosopher talks, the believer acts.

An important man was asked one day who he felt was the philosopher that influenced his life the most.  Wanting to give glory to God for his accomplishments, he said, “Christ, because He changed my life!”  I can see virtue in wanting to acknowledge God in his life but was Christ a “philosopher?” No! He was not like one who placed virtue on a pedestal for show and to merely describe it.  He was the very essence of the action, of the “verb” (alternate translation for “Word” in John 1), the full action in the being, the “I AM”.  

One who keeps His “precepts” doesn’t just study and meditate on them, acknowledging their wisdom and beauty while living a life estranged to them.  He honors them as he restrains his feet from the “evil way”, and he departs not from “judgment” as he was taught.

Are you a philosopher or a believer?  Do you appreciate the virtues of God’s Word only in show, exteriorly, or are they part of you, dictating your every move?

Jam 2:14-21,26 KJV What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?  (15)  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,  (16)  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?  (17)  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  (18)  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.  (19)  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.  (20)  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?  (21)…(26)  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Patrick Lumbroso
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