Hans Sangtoki “The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” (Psalm 16:5-6)
In the end, what gives a saint his identity, contentment and joy? It is to know the Lord and His ways. For David, he says, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you” (Psalm 16:2).
What separates us from the world is not our good deeds or our higher intellect to choose the truth. We are sinners, broken and rebellious before God. What separates us is the grace of God which has been given to us so that we can know Him. This is the precious treasure and true meaning of life; to know God.
Such truth has been revealed to us not because we are wise nor because we are sinless. Such truth is only a gift of grace God gives freely to His chosen people. If God has chosen to reveal Himself to us, we should stand in awe at the grace we have received. With such a great grace given to us, we must respond in humility and obedience to the truth and reality God has given us.
To know God and enjoy His person is the end to which we have been created. In David’s heart, his innermost desire was to be content in God, who was his portion. There was nothing else that he desired. In this psalm, David reflects on all the wonderful and undeserved graces he had received.
In Christ, the lines have fallen in pleasant places, and there is a beautiful inheritance (v. 6). God’s good providence is over His children. All things work for good (Romans 8:28). That means whatever happens to us, whether it is good or bad, or even our own failures and rebellion, God will work all things together for our good, and it will be beautiful in the end. God holds our future and our final destiny is to be perfected like Christ in heaven.
In Christ, God counsels us in the way of truth. God leads us constantly. He is our stronghold, and He is the leader of our life in all things. We can live in His presence daily and can follow and walk with Him. If He is the one we follow and obey, we will not be shaken (v.7-8).
Because God is in control over our lives, our hearts can be glad, our beings can rejoice, our flesh can dwell securely. Never will God abandon our soul to Hell or let our soul be lost in corruption. God is faithful to his saints, and the work He has begun He will finish. Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
God has opened up to us this reality of life. It is the true path of life that will bring about true joy and contentment. In God’s presence, there is fullness of joy, and at God’s right hand, there are pleasures forevermore (v.11). What more could a saint ask for? All these blessings have been given to us by His grace. How we ought to turn to Him, embrace Him, obey Him, and make Him the only portion in our lives.
Lord, Your love and grace for us is too wonderful. More so, Your love is far greater than the little we have come to comprehend. We do not understand why You would love most broken sinners like us and why Your grace would be given to us. We are sinful and unworthy. Please forgive us. Lord, if You have given us Yourself, teach us to come to know You. Pull us away from the love of this world and work in us renewed hearts that set their portion and joy in You alone. Thank You, God. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Hans Sangtoki (18) is the coordinator of RE Generation Z. He has a passion for serving his generation and sharing hope in Christ. He also has an interest in classical music and dreams of conducting an orchestra one day.