Psalms 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
The above instructions constitute the ongoing work of the sealing process, and the following pointers are subdivided between the human agent and the Holy Spirit, who supervises, and empowers the entire process from kindergarten to maturity, while life goes on. Let’s begin with the human agent’s part in the sealing process. Hiding God’s word in our hearts, girding up the loins of our minds, and keeping the heart and mind with all diligence requires much more than a knowledge of God’s will.
It is true that we must study the scripture daily, but whatever we study must also be synchronized, and interfaced with our everyday experience, because a knowledge of God’s will without active participation produces stagnation, and luke-warmness. As we study God’s revealed will, and become more knowledgeable in spiritual truths, we are then to ask God for grace, not to argue with Him, but rather to obey Him, for it is only as we obey that God’s will makes any sense.
Initially, one might begin keeping the Sabbath because they may have read, or heard that it is the right thing to do. But it is only as they obey on an ongoing basis that the command to keep the Sabbath makes sense and thus, by obedience and surrender, they are brought to the point where the Sabbath becomes a real joy to the person who keeps it. In other words, the Sabbath becomes something that is eagerly looked forward to, instead of being a cold, formal day, with persons checking the clock to see when the sun would set. It’s a huge difference!
Psalms 1:1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!