Read Psalm 119:18

"Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord" (v. 1).

Funambulism - the art of walking along a thin wire or rope. Often it is called tightrope walking. Viewers were captivated as they watched a man skilled at this art on June 23, 2013. Nikolas Walendra has numerous entries attributed to his name in the Guinness World Records. But what gripped the attention of the viewing public that day was when he became the first person to high-wire walk across a Grand Canyon-area gorge. Amazing.
And yet, showmanship of this sort seems to be such a waste. What is more exciting is when we see a man or woman of God walking the straight and narrow path of righteousness. Spiritual funambulism bears some similarities to the tightrope walker who must maintain his balance by positioning his center of mass directly over his base of support. To stay on the narrow path of righteousness, we must maintain the balance between legalism and radicalism. We must keep ourselves positioned so that we are supported totally by Holy Spirit. Only then, can we be confident that we will not fall, missing the glory of getting to the end of the way where we will receive our eternal reward. (Gayle Woods)

To stay on the narrow path of righteousness,
we must maintain the balance between legalism and radicalism.

This devotional is the Monday, November 14, 2016 entry of Opening the Word.
"USA little colorado pano AZ.jpg" by Dschwen BY CC SA 3.0 / Resized

“But unto the Son he saith, ‘Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom’” (Hebrews 1:8)

The bell rang, boys ran, recess began as we all wanted to be - King of the Mountain. It didn’t matter who started as king, he would be knocked off, and another would follow, and that continued until the bell rang to call us back to the classroom.
Today our thoughts are about One who rules with authority and absolute straightness. It is pointed out that His power is the Word, and the Word is His power (v. 3), that his position is God’s Son (v. 5), that He is praised by the angels (v. 6), and that His prominence will never end (v. 8).
As we sat in the classroom, our thoughts were on a strategy to take the mountain at the next recess. Today my thoughts are on how do I live for Him in love, faith, and purity to reflect His scepter of righteousness in my speech and conduct (I Timothy 4:12). Am I allowing that scepter of righteousness to infiltrate my thinking and guide me to living in “holiness and righteousness”? (Luke 1:74)  He has given His life for me to be able to do just that!(Steve Martin)
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p style="text-align:center;font-style:italic;">In loving kindness Jesus came, my soul in mercy to reclaim.
And from the depths of sin and shame, through grace He lifted me.
(Charlotte G. Homer; Public Domain)
This devotional is the Tuesday, August 23, 2016 entry of Opening the Word.