Read: Ezekiel 42:1-43:27, James 5:1-20, Psalm 119:1-16, Proverbs 28:6-7

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

Relate: The word “hidden” in Hebrew is tsaphan. It can mean to conceal, as in something too valuable for common use (Job 10:13), to treasure something of great worth (Proverbs 10:14), or to store up, to build up something over time like grain in a silo (Hosea 13:12). All three types of definition fit well here. The Bible is far too precious to be used as a beating stick. Using my knowledge of the Bible to belittle or degrade others is a sin. Bible bashing only drives others from the God I claim to serve. The Bible is also something of great worth. It is a love letter from my fiance’. It is my marching orders from the Supreme Commander. It is an instruction manual for how I can put my life back together. It is the promise of a better future. The Bible is also something whose constant use builds over time. It is my daily bread being stored away against times of hunger. It is a solid foundation I can build upon day by day, brick by brick.

React: The Bible is not a closet that I can throw something in and forget about it for the rest of time. I’ve got a book shelf next to me with a good 100 books on it or so. With the exception of a few reference and new purchase books, I’ve read all of them. Hipster Christianity was just recently, I could tell you all about it. Go The Distance I stole from my dad, its been over 15 years at least and I could only vaguely tell you what it is about. Back in my Sunday School days, and when I was at a Christian School, I had to regularly memorize scripture. Without reinforcement, I couldn’t quote them today. As a quizzer, I memorized books of the Bible, but that was over a decade ago. The question isn’t how much of the Bible I have read? The question is, what have I been reading from it recently. The question isn’t, what did I memorize as a child? The question is what have I been memorizing recently? A chapter read a year ago, a verse read at 8 years old will do me no good when faced with temptation today.

Respond: 

God, help me to conceal your word in my heart. Help me not to use it to abuse Your loved ones. Help me to use it as a weapon against Your enemies, not my antagonists. Help me also to treasure Your Word. Help it to be something I love and long to come back to again and again, not a chore that I have to tick off my daily checklist. Most of all help me to store up Your Word. Help me not to rest on past accomplishments but to daily, regularly, store it up inside of me. Give me this day, my daily bread.