Today’s Scripture: Psalm 61:5

“You, O God, have heard my vows.”

Commitment to the pursuit of holiness is, first of all, a commitment to God to pursue a way of life that is pleasing to him. It is commitment to a life of obedience. Such a commitment must allow for no exceptions, no secret sins we want to hold onto, no sinful habits we’re unwilling to give up. We must make it our aim not to sin.

This doesn’t mean we can arrive at sinless perfection in this life, for even our best deeds are stained with sin. But it does mean that our firm intention must be not to sin willfully. Commitment to a life of holiness without exception is a requirement for consistently making the right choices. There’s no point in praying for God’s help in the face of temptation if we haven’t made a commitment to obedience without exception.

The psalmist said, “I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules” (Psalm 119:106). He felt so strongly about his commitment to obedience that he took an oath that he would follow God’s righteous laws. An oath, in this context, is a solemn calling on God to witness that the person sincerely intends to do what he or she says. It’s a declaration or promise to fulfill a pledge, a commitment of the highest level. The psalmist not only took an oath but confirmed it. He wanted to make his commitment as strong as he possibly could.

The Puritan pastor and writer Stephen Charnock commented on this verse: “Frequently renew settled and holy resolutions. A soldier unresolved to fight may easily be defeated. The weakness of our graces, the strength of our temptations, and the diligence of our spiritual enemies, require strong resolutions.” (Excerpt taken from The Discipline of Grace)

https://www.navigators.org/Home