Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

May 1
Friday


THE CHEAT TEST

READ:
Psalm 119:129-136
________________________________________

Direct my steps by
Your Word, and let no
iniquity have dominion
over me.
__Psalm 119:133
________________________________________

Dan Ariely, an economics professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, conducted some tests on human behavior. In one experiment, the participants took an examination in which they would receive money for each correct answer. The participants didn't know, however, that Ariely was not testing their knowledge but whether they would cheat. He set up the test so that the groups thought it would be easy to get away with cheating.

Prior to taking the exam, one group was asked to write down as many of the Ten Commandments as they could remember. To Ariely's astonishment, none from this group cheated! But all the other groups did have those who cheated. Recalling a moral benchmark made the difference.

Centuries ago, the psalmist understood the need for a moral benchmark and asked for divine aid in following it. he prayed to the Lord, "Direct my steps by You Word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me....Teach me your statutes" (Ps. 119:133-135).

Ariely's "cheat test" experiment illustrates our need for moral guidance. The Lord has given us His Word as a lamp for our feet and a light for our path(v.105) to direct us in our moral choices. __Dennis Fisher
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``````````````````How precious is the Book divine`````````````````
``````````````````````By inspiration given!``````````````````````
```````````````Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine,````````````````
````````````To guide our souls to heaven. __Fawcett```````````````
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Like a compass, the Bible always points us
in the right direction.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ Psalm 119:129-136*********

129 Your testimonies are
wonderful; therefore my
soul keeps them. 130 The
entrance of Your words
gives light; it gives
understanding to the simple.

131 I opened my mouth and
panted, for I longed for
Your commandments.

132 Look upon me and be
merciful to me, as Your
custom is toward those who
love Your name. 133 Direct
my steps by Your word, and
let no iniquity have
dominion over me.

134 Redeem me from the
oppression of man, that I
may keep Your precepts.

135 Make Your face shine
upon Your servant, and
teach me Your statutes.

136 Rivers of water run down
from my eyes, because men
do not keep Your law.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Notice the different terms the psalmist uses to describe God's
Word. The Word is seen as "testimonies" (v.129), "words" (v.130),
"commandments" (v.131), "precepts" (v.134),"statutes" (v.135),
and "law" (v.136). Perhaps of greater importance, however, is the
list of benefits the singer received from God's wisdom and truth:
light and understanding (v.130), and guidance and direction (v.133).
No wonder the singer longs for God's words (v.131) and keeps
them (v.129). In fact, the psalmist is so captured by God's Word
that he grieves and weeps over those who reject it (v.136). All these
responses are rooted in a heart that values and honors God and His
Word. __Bill Crowder