What Should Be in Our Hearts

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you – Psalm 119:11

In May 2011, the United Kingdom celebrated a royal wedding. Prince William and his bride Catherine Middleton wed amidst pomp and circumstance that reminded many of William’s parents. In 1981, the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana drew unprecedented publicity. Viewers watched a “fairy tale” marriage that began with a horse-drawn carriage. Unfortunately, the union ended with allegations of cheating, depression, divorce, and a tragic death. The “fairy tale” crumbled before our eyes.

Sin has a way of doing this. Couples often have a fairy tale wedding and reception only to end in a bitter divorce. Churches will split over sin. Families will break apart and many will not even gather on the holidays even when years have passed. Just the other day, I heard of another shooting at a major university on the Mainland. Two people had their lives cut short and many others now have to live with emotional scars.

For the believer, there is an answer: Internalizing the Word is a believer's best weapon to defend against encroaching sin. He does not make us holy against our will or without our cooperation. Someone has wisely said, "The best book in the world is the Bible. The best place to put it is in the heart. The best reason for putting it there is that it saves us from sinning against God."

Many people believe that this verse only means that Scripture should be memorized. I think memorizing God's Word is a wonderful thing, but some of the meanest little brats I have seen in Sunday school were the ones who could stand up and quote one hundred verses of Scripture. When the psalmist wrote, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart," I think he meant, "I obey it." That is the important thing. It is a wonderful thing to be able to stand up and by rote recite verse after verse- I'm not criticizing that; I'm in favor of Scripture memorization programs- but we also need to obey the Word. That is what the psalmist means by hiding it in your heart.

I challenge you to consider memorizing at least a couple of verses a week and begin to apply them. It’s sad to me that we are living in a time when believers no longer make this a part of their spiritual practice because it’s a wonderful thing to do. Write verses that particularly speak to you on 3x5-inch cards, pack them around with you—and before you know it, you’ll have a heart full of the Word and a life that reflects it.

God Is Looking For a New Generation

I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands – Psalm 119:10

If you plan to vacation in a new city and are looking for a hotel, you probably read travel reviews. Websites like Hotels.com and Travelocity offer photos, maps, and reviews about specific properties. Some are scathing: “This hotel is nothing like the pictures. It was the smallest room I have ever stayed in!” Travelers use these reviews to protect themselves from deceptive hotel ads that do not live up to their promises.

The writer of this Psalm is making a promise that he hopes to live up to – “I will seek the Lord with all my heart.” Have you made such a promise? Are you living up to your promise? Do you get up early in the morning or stay up late at night when you are so tired just to spend the time you promised to seek the Lord?

God is looking for a “Generation of Seekers.” Those who seek the Lord personally will also throw their heart over the line in serving the Lord. You show me a person whose heart is in his serving and I will show you a person who truly seeks the Lord! You show me a person who pauses to complain about not having this or there’s not enough time or help, and I will show you a person who does not seek the Lord as the writer of this Psalm has chosen to do.

When a person truly seeks God with all his or her heart, then they will pray, “do not let me stray from your commands.” Not only is God looking for a generation of seekers, but He is also on the lookout for a “Generation of Followers.” It is so easy now and then to go astray from the Lord. It can happen in a subtle way. God knows our heart and He knows when the performance does not match the motive. Often times when we therefore seek the Lord, that is the time God allows us to do a heart check on us to recalibrate back to the Father’s ways and commands.

This blessed state of seeking God the flock of Christ should cherish with godly jealousy. Yet let it be remembered, that daily progress in the heavenly walk is not maintained by yesterday's grace. Humble and dependent prayer must fetch in a fresh supply continually, "O let me not wander from Your commandments." Lord, I feel my heart so prone to wander. My affections are often scattered to the ends of the earth. Unite my heart to fear Your name. Concentrate every thought, every desire, in Yourself, as the one object of attraction.

Special

You are serving the Lord Christ – Col. 3:24 NCV

To whom were these words written to? To bishops and emperors? Not in the slightest. To nobles and princes? Hardly. To kings and those of a royal lineage? Not even. Then to whom?

Peasants, dock workers, merchants, stay-at-home-moms, farmers, field workers, slaves -- every day common folk. People just like us. Nothing special other than we serve the Lord Christ.

But that’s where we need to change our thinking a little. It is precisely because we serve the Lord Christ that makes what we are and do special.

Do you sweep and mop floors at church and clean the bathrooms? You are special! Because you serve the Lord Christ. Do you pass out bulletins and greet people when they come to church? You serve the Lord Christ! Do you work behind the scenes wearing black so as not to bring attention to yourself? You serve the Lord Christ! Do you prepare food and serve it to people in church? You serve the Lord Christ! Do you collect the offering? You serve the Lord Christ.

And it is precisely for that reason and that reason alone, that makes what you do so special.