Deuteronomy 27-28:19; Psalm 119:1-24; Isaiah 54; Matthew 2

Scripture:

Psalm 119:11,  I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you. (NIV)

Observation:

What a simple verse. This entire chapter is a testimony of the strength we find in God’s holy Word. What a great resource this chapter is in finding the treasure we have in the Bible. And here we find one of the reasons we need to memorize God’s Word. It keeps us from sin. Not the act of memorizing it keeps us from sinning, but when we encounter those circumstances where sin could occur we find strength in God’s Word for us to repel the evil one and those evil desires that reside in us as well. When we are confronted with a situation, at that point it’s too late to run to God’s Word and look for strength. It needs to be in us and ready for recall and application at a second’s notice.

Application:

I don’t know about you, but memorizing Scripture is a chore for me. I’m not a good memorizer. When I was younger I belonged to an organization called the Bible Memory Association. We were given books of Scripture that we had to memorize — sections each week — and then we receive rewards for our hard work. Because of those sessions I still can recall the entire first chapter of the Gospel of John. What a gem that passage has been for me in so many circumstances. On the other hand as an adult one night while I wrestled with thoughts that were not God-pleasing words from Romans 8 came to me taking my mind off the mischief at hand. I’m not saying I’m perfect or even accomplished at this thing called memorization, but I have experienced its benefit in my life both in youth and adulthood.

In adulthood do you struggle like me to memorize the Bible? Has your hard work paid off in a closer walk with God?

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for Your Word. I pray Your Holy Spirit will help us to stay at this great task of memorizing it and using it to stay close to You in all we do. Thank You for the great treasure we find in it and You as we memorize. We pray these things in Jesus Name, Amen!

dmbaldwin

from the archives, June 22, 2011

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2 Chron.1; 1 John 1; Micah 7; Luke 16

Solomon could ask for anything. He chose to ask for wisdom to lead. God said he knew Solomon’s heart and greatest desire.

In Luke, the Pharisees scoffing. Indignant. Mocking.

“You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What the world honors is detestable in the sight of God,” Jesus said. Luke 15:16 (NLT), emphasis mine.

1 John 1:8,  If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.

In my twenties, it was my defense, “I’m a good person.” I know a lot of good people, Christian or not. But while I thought of myself as good, I think I would be surprised to know what others thought of me. Especially the ones who didn’t think much of me. Didn’t I want to appear righteous in public? My identity defined by the whim of another’s thought.

These years, God has shown me glimpses of this heart–held it out for me to see, told me to look even when it was painful. So I could repent, so I could walk with him. When an enemy would flame with words, criticism, condemnation–the Lord corrects in love, stands with me in my retching admission, forgives.

¹⁸ Where is another God like you,
who pardons the guilt of the remnant,
overlooking the sins of his special people?
You will not stay angry with your people forever,
because you delight in showing unfailing love.
¹⁹ Once again you will have compassion on us.
You will trample our sins under your feet
and throw them into the depths of the ocean! Micah 7:18-19

Man would say, “Please me. Answer to me. Conform to me and gain my approval.” All at his whim.

God the eternal wants fellowship, relationship, and my very heart.

Father, it’s comforting and frightening that you know me so well (and that you love me anyway). I’ve been forgiven by you, grace poured down, soul set free … I am grateful to receive–a quenching, satisfying delight. You know my prayer; you know my struggle; you know my heart.

Courtney (66books365)