How does the evil around you affect you?

Ps. 119:53-55 I am furious with the wicked, those who reject your laws. Your principles have been the music of my life throughout the years of my pilgrimage. I reflect at night on who you, are, O LORD, and I obey your law because of this.

Let me ask you something. Are you angry with the wicked, those who reject God's laws and make no pretense about it? Does it bother you at all that most of the people around you have no regard for the Lord or His ways? Do you get upset by the way evil people treat one another and the Christian community? Does it bother you in the ways that evil people entertain us? We have become so engaged in our own little worlds that we have lost most of our sense that we are a part of a larger community. We may not be a part of the world, but we are in the world and should be concerned by what is going on around us. We should participate in doing what we can to bring Christ into the world. You cannont live in Christ and isolate yourself from the evil around you. We are the salt and light in the world and if we aren't, we are not really in Christ.

God's Word should be sweet music in our hearts as we journey through this life. It should overshadow and determine our steps. It should bring joy to our souls as we reflect on it. It should cause our hearts to sing because God shows us a better way to live, a way that leads us into the heart of God.

As we immerse ourselves in God's Word, we discover God. We are drawn to Him. We marvel at the thought of who God is. He captivates us as we encounter Him throughout the Scriptures. We are humbled before Him as we feast on His greatness in power and character. We are overwhelmed by the knowledge that God can care about us individually and collectively. We are amazed at how God makes each of us individually and enters into each of our lives in relationship with us. God wows us in every way and keeps us coming back for more of Him.

The more we know of God, the more motivated we are to obey Him. The natural response of the soul who is enthralled by who God is is to love and worship Him. Because we love Him, we seek to please Him in all we do by living submissively and obediently to Him.