Like I said in my previous post, I am in Austin finishing up a graduate class. I have had the opportunity to stay with this awesome family, Dean and Mary Johnson, while I am here. On the way home from class yesterday, Mary (who is taking the class as well) and I were sharing little things that had blessed us in our lives. One of the things she shared with me was a small quote, “A Bible that is worn out usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”
This quote got me to thinking. Keeping it in mind, take a look at this passage from Psalms 119:9-16…
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all of my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands
11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, O Lord;
teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.
How can you keep your life pure? By living according to the word of God. One thing you discover about the writer of this Psalm, is that there exists within his heart a deep love and appreciation for God. If you read on through Psalm 119, life experience has taught this writer that dependence on God has proven to be an ally in life. For him, there is something to knowing God and knowing God’s heart. Therefore, he meditates on God’s precepts and considers his ways. He doesn’t just read the word of God, he meditates on it and tries to make sense of what it means for him and the way he lives his life.
Such meditation pays off in other ways. With his lips, he can recount all of the laws that come from the mouth of God. For some, this may seem like a cumbersome task, to be able to recite all of the laws of God. Before you become too dismissive, do you remember when Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert? It was the recitation of Scripture that rocked Satan back on his heels, and reminded him of his place in the kingdom of God. Paul says in Ephesians that we should take up the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; our only offensive weapon in this spiritual battle.
Maybe that is it…maybe the reason that some of us are so worn out is because we are not fighting back. Our Bibles are not worn. They are not being used. Instead we keep them in their leather sheaths, never exploring God’s precepts and ways, and missing out on the edge that God has honed for the faithful. Maybe we should wear out the leather a bit more in our daily lives. We should open our Bibles more so that we may be equipped in this battle against Satan and the powers of darkness. Then we can be the ones giving, rather than taking, the beatings.
Is your Bible worn out, or are you?
This quote got me to thinking. Keeping it in mind, take a look at this passage from Psalms 119:9-16…
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all of my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands
11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, O Lord;
teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.
How can you keep your life pure? By living according to the word of God. One thing you discover about the writer of this Psalm, is that there exists within his heart a deep love and appreciation for God. If you read on through Psalm 119, life experience has taught this writer that dependence on God has proven to be an ally in life. For him, there is something to knowing God and knowing God’s heart. Therefore, he meditates on God’s precepts and considers his ways. He doesn’t just read the word of God, he meditates on it and tries to make sense of what it means for him and the way he lives his life.
Such meditation pays off in other ways. With his lips, he can recount all of the laws that come from the mouth of God. For some, this may seem like a cumbersome task, to be able to recite all of the laws of God. Before you become too dismissive, do you remember when Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert? It was the recitation of Scripture that rocked Satan back on his heels, and reminded him of his place in the kingdom of God. Paul says in Ephesians that we should take up the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; our only offensive weapon in this spiritual battle.
Maybe that is it…maybe the reason that some of us are so worn out is because we are not fighting back. Our Bibles are not worn. They are not being used. Instead we keep them in their leather sheaths, never exploring God’s precepts and ways, and missing out on the edge that God has honed for the faithful. Maybe we should wear out the leather a bit more in our daily lives. We should open our Bibles more so that we may be equipped in this battle against Satan and the powers of darkness. Then we can be the ones giving, rather than taking, the beatings.
Is your Bible worn out, or are you?
1 comment:
The picture of the Bible on your post looks like my grandfather's Bible. It was very worn and every page had notes written on it. I would never have thought of him as faint of heart....just the opposite. Good post, my friend.
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