Today’s Reading, Psalms 119
Focal Scripture: Psalms 119:11 “I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.”
What do you treasure in your life? I personally have a few items that mean very much to me and that I try to keep tabs on where they are located. Some of those items are hand written notes that I have received from others, especially family. They are nice to have because when life gets difficult it is good to be able to look and remember the positive things that have taken place. I treasure the letters because they are heartfelt and true.
In today’s reading we see the Psalmist declare the greatness of the word. He declares that he treasured God’s word in his heart so that he would not sin against God. It is important to note that he didn’t just read it or memorize the words. He poured over the words and they were seared into his being. He understood that going through the motions would get the same results that earlier generations experienced, pain and apathy. Hearing the word but it not fundamentally changing who they are as people.
That is the challenge that you and I have today. We can’t make Bible reading a to do list chore but it must be done. Bible reading must be something that is important and treasured. It is a choice an individual person must make. We know this to be true because when we have conversations with people who treasure items we can look at them strangely because we don’t see the value. However, it’s not us that determines the value but the mindset of the person who loves the treasure that determines the value.
I have personally been told that I take the Bible and it teaching to serious. This was told to me not by unbelievers but by believers. They said my expectations were too high and that I shouldn’t expect others to pursue God with that type of fervor. I was told teenagers can’t handle Bible reading that serious and it’s to difficult for them.
I want to challenge everyone who reads this to apply that same logic to a teenagers school work and extracurricular activities. I challenge adults to have that mindset in your jobs and marriages. Have the mentality that getting by or doing the bare minimum will equate to success. We all know that it won’t and we need to quit acting like it will.
By no means am I trying to guilt you into being passionate about the word. However, I do want to expose your heart and your attitude about the word. The writer here tells us that by treasuring God’s word in his heart it kept him from sin. This is the victory that many people are looking for as they grow in their faith.
I think it’s time to love the word and promote it in our lives. For those who are struggling to love the word let’s find solutions not excuses. The word matters. It matters how it is read and it matters how it is preached. Let us all treasure the words of our Lord and apply them in of our lives.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Psalms 120-125
