Hidden!

Hidden!

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalms 119:11 KJV

People perform either from a sense of duty or a sense of relationship. Both senses command action and reaction. Both have rules, laws and commands that those who operate under them comply with. But there is one very subtle difference between the two. At some point, those who choose to obey out of a sense of duty need to have a cogent reason to keep on. Obedience is tied to the rule and the benefit, not the ruler. This must have been the state of that rich, young ruler. He knew all the rules, but there was no personal experience of the Ruler Himself. For those who have a sense of relationship, obedience flows from a heart that knows the ruler, the benefit and the rule. I believe the writer of today's extract knew all three.

As you read at least 2 verses before today's extract, you see this piece: I will give my thanks to you from a heart of love and truth. And every time I learn more of your righteous judgments, I will be faithful to all that your word reveals— so don’t ever give up on me. It is quite clear that the writer of this psalm knew the God who made the rules, because he spent time with Him, seeking to know His mind on issues. You cannot really know what a person wants if you are not ready to invest time in that relationship. The more time I spend with God, the more of his likes and dislikes I know. The more time I spend with God, the more of his rules I know, and can avoid the pitfalls of disobedience. 

And it matters what the terms of engagement are. How do I deal with the things I hear from and learn about Him? Do I learn these things because I want to show off knowledge, or do I learn them so that I can align with God's purpose for my life? I go back to the beginning of this piece: what drives me: a sense of duty or of relationship? When I know God, his Word becomes my first and utmost priority. 

His word is the full revelation of His being, and it is by taking time to study and know it that my life's pursuits will be right. And it matters how I engage the word, as it is possible to seek it for all the wrong reasons. Quoting scriptures from memory does not, on its own, secure you a seat at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Even the devil quoted Scripture to Jesus as he tempted him, but the right application of the word of God gave Jesus victory over Satan. 

That same rule still applies: my knowledge of God and His life instructions are the keys to my victory over sin and Satan. It is not enough for me to commit the Scripture to memory, though that is a good thing, but they must take root in my heart, because that is where my life's decisions, pursuits and priorities flow from. The heart, not the brain, is the mirror of a man's life. All that he produces come from the investment of time and resources into the heart. When you want to understand a man's life, check the output of his heart. 

That is why the heart is the best hiding place for the word of God. This is where no man can get in without your permission. It is the secret place of nurture, where all that I receive is processed, before output. And because I know God and his rule, my heart seeks after pleasing Him, not out of a sense of duty, but of responsibility. If I will not sin against God, the secret lies in the investments of my heart. 

The fear of God, the desire for His Word, the fullness of the riches of God's grace and mercy are all features of a heart that has experienced God. Have I really personally experienced Him, or am I living a life of pretence, just keeping up appearances? The danger is: no matter how long or hard I pretend, the truth about my heart will be made plain in time. His time of favour is here.