Hiding God's Word In My Heart

 Psalm 119:1-16

It is probably fair to say that most believers want to live a virtuous and upright life before the Lord.  Achieving that, though, is not always easy.  We frequently fall short, and need some help in getting anywhere near reaching that goal.  In our Scripture passage today, a portion from Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, we read a question asking how a young man, actually any believer, can lead a sanctified life.  Our psalm also gives us an answer to that question.  Let’s take a look.

Living a godly and sanctified life is, as mentioned above, not easy, and is impossible on our own.  We need help, and we can find that help through the Holy Spirit, who indwells each believer.  One way in which the Holy Spirit helps believers in striving to live sanctified lives is through reading, studying, and meditating on God’s Word, the Bible.  That is the theme of this longest psalm, and of our Scripture today.

As we begin Psalm 119, we read that those who are undefiled, or blameless, are those who walk by God’s Law, His Word the Bible (vs. 1).  If we have accepted the Lord Jesus as our Savior, He has washed our sins away, and in God’s sight we are now undefiled and blameless.  For that condition to become evident and a practice in our life, we need to be walking in the Scriptures.  We need to make what we read in God’s Word a habitual pattern of living.

Another key in striving to live a godly life is to seek God with our whole heart (vs. 2).  Our whole heart means with our whole mind or intellect, our whole will, and all of our emotions.  Every facet of our being should desire to follow after the Lord.  The psalmist stresses that we seek God with our whole heart, not a divided heart.  A divided heart wants to partly follow God, but also partly follow the world.  One day we’re doing what we know God desires us to, and the next we’re living like the unsaved, following the philosophies of the world.  One moment we are filled with faith, trusting God to care for us, and the next moment we are filled with worry and fear.  That is not the way to live.  Our whole heart must be devoted to God.

Life is frequently described as a journey.  What path are we following along this journey?  Our psalmist wanted to be following the way that the Lord laid out for him (vs. 5), not the way of the world or the devil.  To live a sanctified and godly life, we need to be careful that we watch our step, and don’t trip up along the way.  We need to keep our eyes firmly fixed on God’s Word.  The Bible forms a path for our feet, from which we should not stray.  As long as we are seeking to obey the Lord, our way through life will be established.  When we seek Him with our whole heart, we won’t be prone to wander from His paths (vs. 10).

Verse 9 asks the key question of the psalm - how can a young man, or anyone, keep his life pure and holy before the Lord?  Everywhere we look, we find temptation to lead impure lives.  How do we stay pure in such a filthy environment as we see in this world?  The psalmist gives the answer in the second half of that verse.  We find strength and wisdom to lead the life the Lord wishes us to by reading God’s Word, and doing what it says.

Only His Word can cleanse us from sin, and the best way to allow it to do that work for us is to hide it in our hearts (vs. 11).  Hiding God’s Word in our hearts requires reading, studying, meditating, and also memorizing it.  The church I was saved in many years ago would encourage its members to memorize Scripture.  Bible verses, short passages, and even whole chapters were memorized throughout the year.  By doing that we could more easily put God’s Word to work in our lives.  When we hide and store God’s Word in our hearts and minds, it remains available to help and strengthen us in tough times.  We can’t use what’s not there, so memorize and meditate upon the Word of God daily.

In closing, let’s look at one more verse from this passage.  The psalmist considered God’s Word more valuable and important to him than great riches (vs. 14).  How excited would you be if you found out you had won a million dollars?  Most of us would be skipping for joy.  When the news interviews big lottery winners, they are all excited and happy, some even in tears.  That is how the psalmist was about God’s Word.  Are we happy when we open up God’s Word to read, or do we look at it as a chore, something to do and then check off our list?  He looked at the Bible as a greater treasure than a chest of valuable jewels and gold bullion.  Let’s hold God’s Word as something valuable to us, something that we will hide in our hearts so that our lives will be pleasing in His sight.

Teach Your Children Well

 Deuteronomy 6:1-9

“Give me a child until he is five, and I will have him for life.”  That is a quote that allegedly was said by Vladimir Lenin, though others have said similar statements.  Some quotes give the age as seven, but the basic thought is that if a child is raised and indoctrinated from their earliest years in a certain belief system, they will likely hold to those beliefs throughout their life.  Lenin, and others who gave similar quotes, felt that if they could carefully train young children in their beliefs, that child would grow to be a faithful follower.  The Lord God gives similar instructions to believers, which we read in our Scripture passage today.

The Book of Deuteronomy tells the account of God’s people on the verge of entering into the Promised Land.  They were camping on the east side of the River Jordan, and Moses spoke the Laws of God a second time to them before they crossed the river and took possession of the land God had promised their fathers so many years earlier.  Before he died, Moses stressed to them how important it was for them to teach God’s Word to their children and grandchildren (vs. 2, 7).

As Christians, we would all like to see our children come to know the Lord, and be saved.  However, if we just leave that to the pastor, their Sunday School teacher, or their church youth group, and not make any effort on our own, the chances are less likely.  Some parents even believe that they shouldn’t force their beliefs upon their children.  They want to let them make up their own mind when they’re older.  With that type of thinking, by the time they are older, after having gone through school and being indoctrinated with the world’s philosophies, they are not likely to choose Jesus when they become an adult.  That is why God’s Word stresses how vitally important it is for us to teach our children about Jesus when they are young.

If one were to take a survey among Christians around the world, asking them to indicate at what age they were saved, what age they gave their heart to Jesus, we would find that more people get saved at a younger age, and that the numbers decrease as one gets older.  Yes, people do fortunately get saved in their 30’s, 40’s, and older, but the chances of that happening decreases as the years go by and the harder one’s heart becomes.  By the time one has gotten into middle age, the world’s philosophies, along with possibly any number of false religious beliefs, have become well-entrenched in one’s mind.  That is why God commands us to be teaching our children and grandchildren while they are young.

One important thing we are to teach our children is that there is only one God, not a multitude of gods and goddesses (vs. 4).   The Jewish people call this verse the “shema”, a verse that devout Jews would recite twice a day.  This is a clear statement of faith that there is only one God, not a multitude of them, as a number of false religions teach.  The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the God of the whole earth, the whole universe, the only true God.  This truth was important for the nation of Israel then, because they were about to enter a land filled with people who believed and worshipped many false gods.  It is also important for us today, as we live in a world that is so readily accepting of all sorts of false pagan, New Age, or occult beliefs.  If we don’t want our children to fall victim to these false teachings, it is important that we begin instructing them in God’s Word while they are still in diapers.

In addition to teaching our children that there is only one God, we need to teach them to love and obey the Lord with all their heart, soul, and strength (vs. 5).  We are to have unreserved, wholehearted commitment to God, expressed in love, and shown through obedience to His Word in our daily life.  He is to be the sole object of our worship, our allegiance, and our affection.

Conversation and thoughts about God should not be limited to just Sunday mornings, and perhaps another night mid-week.  Moses instructed the people here that God’s Word is to be the subject of our talk, both inside and outside of the home, all throughout the day (vs. 6-9).  We are to love God, think constantly about His Word, and teach that Word to our children.  As we do, we will strive to live each day by the guidelines therein.  A believer and his home are to be distinguished in their character by obedience to God and the Bible.

Rather than letting the devil get ahold of our children through false religious beliefs and ungodly philosophies, let’s bring them to Jesus at an early age.  Let’s tell them the story of Jesus, writing every word on their hearts.

The Day Jesus Came By

 Mark 10:46-52

Have you ever had a hope, a wish, a pressing need, only to have someone else stomp on and crush that desire of yours to the ground?  Your need or dream was made known to them, and they ridiculed and mocked it, or told you to shut up.  Your wishes were not important, and you were of no account.  If that is something that you experienced at some time, what did you do?  Did you just quietly throw your need or dream away, sadly believing what those others told you?  Or did you persist all the more?  In our Gospel Scripture for today we will meet a man who had a real need, a desire and hope, and how he would not let that be crushed by others.

As our Scripture passage opens, Jesus was preparing to leave the city of Jericho.  Crowds had gathered around Him and His disciples.  Some would journey on with Jesus, while others were just cheering, joining in the festive atmosphere.  Just outside the city gate sat a blind beggar named Bartimaeus (vs. 46).  In that era, unless a blind person was from a very wealthy family, just about the only thing they could do was to beg.  Bartimaeus had a good spot for begging, as this was the gate of the city, where many people would come and go.  As he heard the crowds coming, he probably grew eager, as that might mean some more needed coins tossed his way.

As the crowds continued to grow, Bartimaeus heard some wonderful news, news that would change his life forever.  The poor blind man heard that the reason for all of this bustling crowd was that Jesus of Nazareth was coming by as He was leaving the city (vs. 47).  Jesus!  Bartimaeus must have heard about Jesus before.  Over the last year or so, he paid attention to what people said as they came and went through the city gate.  He had heard about Jesus, the miracles He had performed and the message He brought.  He had heard that, among other things, Jesus had brought sight to the blind!  That was what he wanted, but as a poor blind beggar, he had never had a way of traveling to where Jesus was.  Now, here Jesus was, right in his own city, and He was going to be passing right by him as He exited the city gate!  This was a chance that he could not let pass by!

As Jesus came by, Bartimaeus called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (vs. 47).  The term “Son of David” was one that the Jewish people used to refer to the Messiah, and when Bartimaeus called Jesus by that name, it showed he believed Jesus was the Messiah.  The crowds, though, were not happy with the beggar’s cries (vs. 48).  Who was he, trying to get the attention of the Teacher and Healer?  This beggar was an embarrassment.  Jericho was a prosperous town, and a blind beggar should not be seen or heard!  Shut up and get out of here, they scolded him.

Bartimaeus had hopes. He had a need for healing and a wish that the Messiah might bring him sight, just as he had heard He did for others.  This man was not going to shut up and leave!  He was not going to let these people squash his need and hope.  Instead of slinking off to a corner, Bartimaeus cried out even louder.  Jesus heard the man’s cries, and He called him to come over (vs. 49).  Jesus hears the cries of all who call to Him, and He bids us all to come.

Then Jesus asked him what might seem to be an unnecessary question.  He asked Bartimaeus what he wanted (vs. 51).  It was obvious to all that the man was blind, yet Jesus wanted him to tell Him exactly what he wanted.  Jesus invited Bartimaeus to think about and tell Him what he really needed.  Be honest with ourselves, and bold enough with Jesus.  God likes specific prayers when we talk with Him.  We don’t need to beat around the bush with God.  Being specific with God can be a sign of faith, because we are acknowledging that we know we’re not talking to a far-off being, but a real Person who loves us.

Bartimaeus wanted to see again, and that is what he told Jesus.  He didn’t waste anyone’s time with a lot of superfluous words.  Jesus saw that he had faith, and that he hadn’t let the crowds stop him from coming, and He rewarded that.  Are we letting others turn us away from coming to Jesus with our needs, hopes, and dreams?  Are we letting them put us down?  Do we have something that we desperately need, but others say that God can’t or won’t hear us?  Remember Bartimaeus, and cry out to Jesus, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”  Bartimaeus received his sight again, and followed Jesus the rest of his life.

Don't Be A Baby!

Hebrews 5:12-6:3

As all new parents know, new born babies can only have milk in their diet.  An important milestone is when they are about six or so months old, when their parents can introduce cooked cereals to their diet.  Gradually after that they can add soft, mashed vegetables and fruit, and as they get older the toddler can start eating hard foods and meat as teeth come in.  Much as the parents enjoy their steak dinner, they would never think to give that to their little baby!  They cannot handle it.  On the other hand, if their child is over a year old and still only drinking milk, and nothing solid, they know that there is something wrong.  As children grow, they should be advancing on to eating more and different foods.

The same is true with a child’s advancing knowledge.  Little toddlers start to learn words.  Then they advance to learning colors and numbers, and their ABC’s.  When they are five or six they start school and will learn more and more as they advance the grades.  We know there is a problem if they aren’t able to learn more as they get older.  As we read in our Scripture for today, we see that this holds true for the Christian, as well.  As a believer gets spiritually older, they should also be advancing in what they are learning and taking in.

The writer of Hebrews knew he had to address a problem that he was seeing with the believers he was writing to, which is something that we see among some believers today, as well.  There were believers among his audience who had been saved for a number of years.  Instead of being knowledgeable about more advanced doctrines, they were only understanding the very basic Christian truths, such as the principles of salvation and repentance.  The author found this astonishing!  Here were Christians who had been saved for quite awhile, yet knew no more than that Jesus died on the Cross for their sins!  That’s like an adult who still only drinks milk or baby cereal, or who still talks baby talk and barely knows his colors.  He knew something was not right.

A good parent will advance their children to solid foods as they grow.  They will help them learn and gain a desire for knowledge.  This should be the same for Christians when they are born again.  They start out with learning rudimentary truths, the “milk”, but then slowly are taught more and more from the Scriptures, the soft food and then on to meat.  Spiritual milk is the very basics of Christian truth (vs. 12-14).  These believers had been exposed to the Gospel for long enough that they should have been teaching it to others, but were, instead, babes, too infantile and unskilled to comprehend, let alone teach the truth of God.

Things are no different today.  We can go into just about any church and find people who have been saved for years, even decades, but only know the very basics in Biblical doctrines and truths.  These folks are still spiritual babies with no spiritual maturity, still taking in only baby formula and baby cereal.  However they should be enjoying steak.  These people should know enough of the Bible to be teaching others, but they have not even applied the basics to their own lives.  All believers should grow in their knowledge of Bible doctrine, and then go on to teach others, passing on the Gospel message.

As we continue on in our Scripture, the author tells us to “leave the discussions of the elementary principles” (vs. 1).  “Leaving” doesn’t mean to abandon these basic doctrines, the “milk”.  These are very important for new Christians to learn.  However they are the place to start, not to stop at.  One does not drink only milk their whole life, or stay in only picture books.  Like a baby, we learn to eat solid food, on up to meat.  We move on to novels and nonfiction books.  The writer urges the Christians to go on, learn more about God through more advanced Bible teachings.

What is on your spiritual menu for today?  Just like with physical food, we want a well-balanced diet.  We want to grow in our knowledge of God, eating the spiritual meat and vegetables in order to grow spiritually strong.  We also do include some milk and softer foods, too, spiritually reminding ourselves of the truths we learned at the start.  And when we are feeling down, we take in some spiritual comfort food, to carry us on.  Let’s make sure we have a spiritually well-rounded diet.

How Long, O Lord?

 Psalm 13

Sometimes the trials in our life seem to go on forever.  We look for relief, but there is no help in sight, no light at the end of the tunnel.  Some might not mind an occasional challenge in their life if the problem can be quickly resolved.  However, it’s when the problems keep coming and there is no end, no help from any side, that we get discouraged.  Even God seems to be silent, and our prayers seem to be in vain.  “How much longer is this going to go on?!” we call out to God.  King David felt like this as he wrote this psalm.  Though burdened with discouragement, he did not remain that way.  Let’s see what God can teach us through David’s experience.

Our psalm begins with David’s cry, just like our own, to the Lord for relief from the trial he was going through.  We don’t know any specifics about the turmoil he was going through, but we know that David had many desperate days throughout his life.  He spent years on the run while King Saul tried to have him killed.  As a general in Saul’s army, and also while king, David faced the attacks from the surrounding enemy nations.   Also, later in his reign, David’s own son tried to stage a coup against him, and he was forced to flee Jerusalem for his own safety.  This psalm could have been written during any of these times.  It seemed that every time David turned around, something else was coming down upon him.  Where was God?  Why was He letting all these problems overwhelm him?  No wonder David cried out “How long?”  (vs. 1).  That phrase “how long” occurs four times in the first two verses.  It indicated the depth of David’s distress.

David was growing weary.  He felt abandoned.  It is easy to get discouraged while waiting for God to bring us out of our problems.  It is during these times that Satan tries to tell us that God has forgotten us, and that things will never change.  He tried that with David.  Satan brings many discouraging thoughts to our mind.  Why should I even bother to read the Bible and pray if God is absent, we start to think.  However, it is precisely at these times that we need God’s Word and we need to come to Him in prayer the most while we wait.

Our psalm records David’s prayer for relief from the despair he was going through.  We, like David, often wonder how long we will have to wait until God answers our prayers.  We must continue to trust God, even when He doesn’t answer us immediately.  David affirmed that he would continue to trust God, no matter how long he had to wait.  While we wait, we need to remind ourselves of God’s past blessings, and deliberately praise Him, like David did.

One of the purposes of this psalm, and so many others that David wrote, is to show us how to honestly cry out in our pain, even when we feel forgotten and helpless.  When David began this psalm, he was on his face, flat on the ground, focused on his misery and complaints (vs. 1-2).  Then David begins to remember God’s faithfulness and love.  He moves to his knees in prayer, taking his burden to the Lord, and admitting his own dependence upon Him (vs. 3-4).  Finally, as the psalm ends, David is on his feet, rejoicing, singing, and praising the Lord (vs. 5-6).  He goes from beginning this psalm in turmoil to ending in tranquility.  David prayed to God, and in the end was able to express hope and trust in Him.

There are several truths we can learn from Psalm 13.  One is that God loves us and will not leave His Blood-bought children.  There is only one real certainty in life, and that is God’s love.  Even throughout all of our troubles, God’s love can be trusted.  Another truth is that the battle isn’t ours.  The battle belongs to the Lord.  Let Him fight it.  The battle may not be short, but victory will be for those who trust Him.  Finally, God is good, even when everything and everybody seems to not be.  Remember God’s character, and base your faith on His character and not upon your circumstances.

God's Hand Is Not Shortened

 Isaiah 59:1-4, 15-19

What do people often do when they don’t get their own way, when someone doesn’t respond to what they want done?  One reaction is often to put that person down, saying things such as that they didn’t know how to do what we wanted them to do anyway, or weren’t smart enough, or strong enough.  That is all done to deflect the idea that the real reason they didn’t get their way might lie within themselves.  As we read from the Prophet Isaiah today, we see a scenario similar to this, and the Lord’s response.

As we open our Scripture passage, we read the Lord’s response to complaints that the nation of Israel has made against Him.  When the people of Israel saw that the Lord God had not been favoring them as He used to in times past, when they saw that other foreign powers were threatening them, and their prayers went unanswered, they pondered the reason why.  No one wanted to take a good, hard, and honest look at themselves.  They didn’t want to admit that perhaps the reason was with themselves and their unrepentant sins.  Instead, they started talking and stating that the fault really lay with God.  They said that He must not be as strong and powerful as He once was, that He had grown deaf, and that the fault lay with Him, not with themselves.

Isaiah responded back with the Lord’s Words, that God was just as powerful and omnipotent as He always was, and that His ears had not gone deaf (vs 1-4).  The real reason that He had not responded to them was because of their sins.  God was not going to run to their rescue, nor show them His favor when they refused to obey His laws, and worship only Him.

We can often see the same thing today.  Many people today want to live their lives the way they want to, ignoring God’s Word.  Then when a problem arises and they cry out for His help, but don’t get the response they want, they blame God.  They, like the Israelites in Isaiah’s day, say that He has no power, or doesn’t get involved in mankind, or that He doesn’t even exist.  Sin offends our holy God, and separates us from Him.  Because God is holy, He cannot ignore or tolerate sin, as though it doesn’t matter.  Sin cuts people off from Him.

This holds not only for the unsaved world at large, but also for believers.  God may refuse to respond to our prayers when we stubbornly refuse to abandon some sin or evil course of action.  The Lord can “do” and the Lord can “hear”, and will do such, but only if His people follow His ways.  The problem is not God’s inability to save, or that He cannot hear, but rather that people have sinned, which separates them from God.

Sin fills the vacuum left when God’s truth no longer fills our life.  The few who are faithful to the doctrinal and moral teachings of God’s Word are a “prey” to the unbelievers (vs. 15).  They are despised, derided, and persecuted by those who seemingly profess faith, but who really don’t, and to others in the world.  We find a lack of true spiritual leadership (vs. 16).

What can we do, then?  Our sins overwhelm us, and we can’t get out from underneath them.  Our sins have put up a barrier between ourselves and God, hindering a true relationship.  Who can help us?  Because it is impossible for anyone to rescue themselves from sin, God Himself, in Jesus Christ, personally stepped in to help (vs. 16-17).  Jesus became the Intercessor for all who accept Him as Savior.  Through Him we find salvation.

As our Scripture passage closes, Isaiah tells us that the Lord will protect and defend those who fear Him (vs. 19).  To fear the Lord is to reverence Him, to recognize Him for who He is.  God’s presence covers and protects us on every side.  He goes before us into every battle, and He is our rear guard.  The standard that the Lord lifts against the enemy is the Blood-stained Cross of Calvary.

What Is True Greatness?

 Mark 10:35-45

Can you picture the head of a multi-billion dollar company vacuuming the front office after business hours?  How about a president or prime minister taking out the trash in his capital office, or the biggest movie star or fashion model rolling up her sleeves and washing the dishes?  We don’t usually picture great and powerful people, people of wealth and position, doing menial tasks.  We think that is for the hired help to do, the maids and other servants, not for the powerful, the movers and shakers.  In today’s Gospel reading, we will read of two disciples who wanted to step into positions of power and prestige, and what the response of Jesus was.  Let’s take a look.

Jesus and His disciples were making their way to Jerusalem for the last time, before He would be crucified.  For several days now, Jesus had been giving rather open hints about what would happen to Him there in the capital, even speaking of it quite plainly several times.  However, the disciples didn’t get it.  Either they were ignoring His words, or just hadn’t listened at all to Jesus’s repeated telling of His impending crucifixion.  The disciples still thought that a physical kingdom was about to be set up, and they were jockeying for important positions in this kingdom.

As they neared Jerusalem, two disciples, the brothers James and John, decided to actually ask Jesus for the prestigious positions of sitting on His right hand and left hand in His kingdom (vs. 35-37).  A king’s closest and most trusted and powerful advisors are generally seated at his left and right.  They believed Jesus was the Messiah, and would soon come to His power, and they wanted these prized positions.

Jesus did not harshly chastise the two brothers, but He did question them about what they were asking for (vs. 38-40).  He pointed out to them that they really did not know what they were requesting.  Their thinking was still centered on believing that Jesus would soon reign over an earthly kingdom, and they wanted chief positions in that kingdom.  His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36).

Jesus then questioned James and John, whether they were willing to go through suffering for His sake.  They answered that they were willing to suffer anything for Jesus, and they would actually do that later in their lives.  James was martyred by King Herod (Acts 12:1-2), and John was persecuted, often imprisoned and beaten, and spent years in a forced labor camp on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9).

As we continue reading in our Scripture passage, we see that the other ten disciples were angry with the brothers for seeking those coveted positions (vs. 41).  This was probably not righteous indignation, because they all wanted those positions.  They were angry because James and John had stepped up and asked the spots for themselves.

Jesus used this moment to teach the disciples, and us as well, an important lesson (vs. 42-44).   The way of the world says that the greater the position, the greater the authority.  But that is not the way of the Lord.  Jesus tells us that true greatness comes in serving others.  Peter also taught that those who are leaders in the church need to be servants (I Peter 5:1-4).  There is no place in the Church for domineering leaders.  The desire to be on top will hinder, not help.  In God’s Kingdom, the greatness of the individual comes from the lowly place he takes as a servant of all.  Rather than seeking to have your needs met, look for ways to minister to the needs of others.

As our Scripture closes, Jesus told us that He, though the Son of God and the second Person of the Trinity, did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for us (vs. 45).  A ransom is a price paid to redeem a slave or prisoner.  The ransom that Jesus made was not paid to Satan.  Satan is a foe to be defeated, not a ruler to be placated.  The ransom was paid to God to satisfy His justice and holy wrath against sin.  In paying it, Jesus bore our sins in His own body on the cross (I Peter 2:24).  It was a ransom paid with His Blood, not silver or gold.

Jesus is our example of a servant leader.  He relinquished the privileges He had in heaven to come to earth and give His life as a sacrifice (Philippians 2:5-8).  Instead of seeking for the best positions and for all the praise and glory accompanying those positions, let us as believers and followers of the Lord Jesus, seek instead to be a servant, and minister to the needs of others.  If any praise comes our way, instead of basking in it, let’s instead deflect it onto the Lord Jesus, where it belongs.