“I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I set your rules before me.” Psalm 119.30
Growing in faithfulness does not occur by happenstance. God calls believers, predestines us to be adopted as his sons, and gives us a righteousness not our own. None of that is accidental. It all comes about according to the kind intention of God’s will (Eph. 1.3-14).
In the same way, our growth in him, often referred to as progressive sanctification, does not occur by accident. God works in us, as we choose faithfulness, we work out our salvation with fear and trembling. That is not to say that we save ourselves—certainly not! Rather, we who are saved by the grace of God, pursue him by faith and grow in faithfulness, grow in Christlikeness.
The psalmist models that kind of faithfulness in this verse. He chooses to press into the way of faithfulness and continually sets God’s Word before him. In doing so, he models what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5.18ff) and let the Word of Christ dwell richly within him (Col. 3.16ff). As Christians, we cannot expect to lazily follow the ways of the world and grow in faithfulness. Instead, we must actively pursue Christ by faith, that we might be transformed into his likeness by his grace.
Friend, have you chosen the way of faithfulness? How do you set the rules of God before you? How are you growing in faithfulness, godliness, and Christlikeness?
Our Father in heaven, we praise you for your grace. We rejoice in our salvation by faith in Christ. May we continually choose the way of faithfulness, setting your law before us. By your grace and for your glory, may we ever abide in you. Amen.