Treasure It Above All Else

Psalms 119:11 Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Why do we read and study God's Word? What motivates us to spend time in it? Are we meditating on it and committing it to memory? If so, do we then use it for our own purpose and gain? Is it a trophy that we break out to convince people that we are so spiritual that we can quote it with chapter and verse? Do we use it to proclaim its promises, out of context, so that we can claim that all God wants for us is prosperity? Are we trying to convince others that we are immune from suffering simply because we are born again? The psalmist makes it very clear that his approach to God's Word begins with a great desire to seek God; so he seeks Him with his whole heart. Then he takes God's Word and stores it in his heart like a hidden treasure that he covets above all else. His purpose for doing this is so that he might not sin against the Lord. It is not enough for us to just memorize Scripture. Once it is stored in our mind, we must let it penetrate our hearts. We must allow it to take root in our very soul and spirit, where the Holy Spirit can use it to change us, as He produces His fruit in our lives. In times of temptation, it is where the Holy Spirit draws from so that, like Jesus, we can use the Word to help us take the way of escape that God makes for us. When life's stormy seas begin to crash against our house, our minds, our very being, we will not be moved. God's Word, the Rock on which we build lives will stand. However, this can only happen if we store up the Word of God as the most valuable treasure we possess. We must treasure it above all else. This cannot be accomplished by merely skimming the Bible for a few minutes once in a while. For some of us, if we treasured the Word as much as we treasure, money, worldly riches, worldly entertainment, and earthly success, we would turn the world upside down for Jesus.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).