‘I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, LORD; teach me your decrees.’ (vv11–12) Psalm 119:1–16
This week we will conclude our reflections on God’s Word by looking at Psalm 119. It declares that God is all-sufficient and revives our spirit. It begins by inviting us to do three things: to walk in God’s ways (vv1–3), to write Scripture on our heart (vv11–12) and to daily profess it with our lips (vv13–15).
In every sandwich, the essential part is the filling; in feeding our heart, Scripture is the essential element. Without God’s Word guiding how we think and act, we’ll wander aimlessly and have little of value to say. Daily reading the Bible ensures that we deposit a rich vein of truth that informs our behaviour.
In time, our actions and reactions become instinctively Christian. Behaviour reflects the measure of our understanding of Scripture, as well as our witness to a lost world.
Jesus explained that behaviour is critical in revealing His presence to the world (John 13:35). We seek genuinely to walk the talk, but without God’s Word embedded within us we have neither walk nor talk.
Finally, God’s Word guides us in how best to talk with others, what prayers to offer when stuck in a frustrating traffic queue, or in support of those walking past the café window as we drink a coffee. This is how we naturally commend ourselves and others to God – praying without ceasing, as Paul instructs us (1 Thess. 5:17).
SCRIPTURE TO CONSIDER: Deut. 5:22–33; Matt. 5:13–16; Eph. 5:1–20; 1 John 2:3–11.
AN ACTION TO TAKE: Is the content of God’s Word deposited in your heart so that you are able to live your life God’s way? How can you ensure you learn God’s living way from His Word?
A PRAYER TO MAKE: ‘Lord, write your word on my heart so that I learn to walk in your footsteps and speak of your reality from my experiences. Amen.’
Photo by The Matter of Food on Unsplash
