ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 PULELULU SIULAI 1, 2026 

SAAME 119:1-88; SAAME 1:1-6

Those who humbly and joyfully submit to God's wise and holy commands are truly blessed.

Ko e kinautolu ‘oku nau tukulolo fiefia mo e loto fakatokilalo ki he ngaahi fekau poto mo haohaoa ‘a e ‘Otua, ko kinautolu ia ‘oku nau monū’ia tahaa.

A man came to me to discuss the sad state of his marriage. His first words were, "I know God says that we should be known for our gentleness, but sometimes you just have to get into someone's face and give him what for." Don't react too harshly to my friend. We all experience times when we think we are smarter than God and disobey his clearly revealed commands. Maybe you're thinking, "Paul, I know God is infinitely wiser than I will ever be." But, when we step over God's boundaries, we tell ourselves that somehow, someway things will work out okay, even though we haven't obeyed God's commands. We convince ourselves that disobedience of thought, decision, word, or action will produce good fruit.

These are "I-know-better-than-God" moments. The deceitfulness of sin causes us to think that there is blessing on the other side of God's moral boundaries. Satan tempts us to believe that we will achieve the good life when we take our lives into our own hands and do what we feel is best, rather than what God says is best. On this side of eternity, we all face situations where we are tempted to think that our way is better and smarter than God's way.

Psalm 119 is a celebration of God's word in the context of a world where temptation, difficulty, and suffering exist. Think carefully through the beginning of the psalm:

Blessed are those whose way is blameless,

who walk in the law of the LORD!

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,

who seek him with their whole heart,

who also do no wrong,

but walk in his ways!

You have commanded your precepts

to be kept diligently.

Oh that my ways may be steadfast

in keeping your statutes!

Then I shall not be put to shame,

having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.

I will praise you with an upright heart,

when I learn your righteous rules.

I will keep your statutes;

do not utterly forsake me!

How can a young man keep his way pure?

By guarding it according to your word.

With my whole heart I seek you;

let me not wander from your commandments! (Ps. 119:1-10)

Psalm 119 reminds us that our way is never better than God's way, and that we are never smarter than the King of heaven. The message is clear. Our lives are blessed when we live in wholehearted obedience to God's law. Obedience is always the better way. And in our struggle to obey, God meets us with his empowering grace, enabling us to find joy in doing his will. Pray now for the blessing of that grace.