Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11.
If we would not be misled by error and falsehood, the heart must be preoccupied with the truth. The Word of God will furnish the mind with weapons of divine power, to vanquish the enemy. Happy is the man, who, when tempted, finds his soul rich in the knowledge of the Scriptures, who finds shelter beneath the promises of God. “Thy word,” said the psalmist, “have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
This Word is ever to be in our hearts and on our lips. “It is written” is to be our anchor. Those who make God’s Word their counselor realize the weakness of the human heart and the power of the grace of God to subdue every unsanctified, unholy impulse. Their hearts are ever prayerful, and they have the guardianship of holy angels. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of God lifts up for them a standard against him. There is harmony in the heart, for the precious, powerful influences of truth bear sway.
The Word of God is a channel of communication with the living God. He who feeds upon the Word will become fruitful in all good works. He … will be the discoverer of rich mines of truth which he must work to find the hidden treasure. When [he is] surrounded with temptations, the Holy Spirit will bring to his mind the very words with which to meet the temptation at the very moment when they are most needed, and he can use them effectually.
We must be better acquainted with our Bibles. We might close the door to many temptations, if we would commit to memory passages of Scripture. Let us hedge up the way to Satan’s temptations with “It is written.” We shall meet with conflicts to test our faith and courage, but they will make us strong if we conquer through the grace Jesus is willing to give. But we must believe; we must grasp the promises without a doubt.
The Faith I Live By p. 8
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for a friend who is going through some heartbreaking problems. Pray that God takes complete control of the situation. Rose
—–I need prayers badly for my son and his wife. Their marriage is falling apart. It is both their fault but it is mainly due to my son not working. They have a seven year old daughter. It is hard watching what is happening. Please keep them in your prayers. Kay
—–I have a special request regarding my child and her father. Please pray that God’s will be done. Daisy
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Dear Friends,
One of the best teachers I ever had was Mrs. Vincent, my high school Latin teacher. Knowing that most of her students would find Latin rather boring, she did what she could to make learning fun. On the first day of school, she divided the students up into two teams. Then she told us that whichever team had the fewest points by Christmas had to bring the treats for a party. They had to serve the winners and clean up the mess afterwards. The winning team could just sit back and enjoy the party. At that party, new teams were to be chosen. There would be another party at the end of the school year.
Every day Mrs. Vincent had games for us at the blackboard. Different students from each team had to go to the board and decline a noun, conjugate a verb, or write a sentence using a particular word. Since it seemed more like a game than it did work, even John who normally had little interest in school wanted to do well. He really tried hard and found that Latin was easy when it was approached as a team sport.
How many look upon our service to Jesus as John normally looked at going to school. How many others follow our Great Provider for the promise of future reward just like the students worked hard learning Latin so they could be on the winning team. How many have a “fire escape” religion, working hard to make sure they are not on the losing side. Yet, these reasons will leave us disappointed. There is only one reason to follow our Dear Saviour—-love. He says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 This is the key. Pleasing our Wonderful Saviour should be the only motive for obedience. “We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
Obedience should never be approached as something distasteful that we have to do or else. Obedience should be given joyfully from a heart full of love, in order to please the One Who died for us that we might have eternal life. We cannot earn our way to Heaven, neither can we rid ourselves of the sin in our lives. We may try, but it is useless. “For though thou wash thee with niter, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.” “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” Jer 2:22, 13:23 James reminds us, “whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10 We may, by stern discipline, keep the law outwardly, but if the heart is not completely right, we are still breaking the commandments.
If we think an outward show is enough, we are as the rich, young ruler. His was an outward obedience and when the test came, he failed.
Yet, obedience is required. the Great King of the Universe cannot allow sinners into Heaven or sin would be perpetuated and spread to the entire universe. A change of heart is essential. Our thoughts, motives, words, and actions must be brought into harmony with the Heavenly team. Praise God! He has provided the way! He does not leave us alone! He not only forgives our sin, but He cleanses us from it! John tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected.” 1 John 1:9-2:5 James adds, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God, thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:17-20
Peter assures us that our Loving Redeemer gives us power to obey! “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:3,4
Let us obey our Great Redeemer as joyfully and wholeheartedly as the students in Mrs. Vincent’s class studied Latin. Let us allow Him to finish the good work that He has begun in us and get us ready to live in His presence for all eternity. Let us so live, that we may partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Rose