Hid His word in your heart.
In 2003 my husband and I were privileged to take a three week missions trip to Uganda, East Africa, with a team from our church. While on the missions trip we were taken to a village way out in the bush. It seemed that we were going to the ends of the earth. In addition to participating in an open-air crusade where the Jesus Film was shown, there was a conference for the pastors and church leaders of that area. Ted and I were each asked to teach a session.
The topic the Lord laid on my heart was taken from Jeremiah 23:29. "Is not my word like fire...and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?" I included other references from scripture that describe what God's word is likened to. Some of those were: A mirror, James. 1:22 Milk, 1 Peter 2:2. A sword, Hebrews 4:12. Bread, Matthew 4:4. A lamp, Psalm 119:45. There are many more comparisons in scripture. I emphasized the importance of the Word and the importance of hiding it in our hearts, as it will keep us from sin and nourish us. Psalm 119:11. I urged those leaders to be diligent in the reading and study of God's word.
The director of the mission, Ron Devore, reemphasized my message as the session was concluded, and then asked how many of those present had a Bible. I was taken back. These were pastors and leaders. Of course they would have a Bible. To my amazement only a handful of people raised their hands that they owned a Bible. Ron urged them to skip buying a loaf of bread and buy a Bible. I really felt reprimanded in my spirit for the smug, American way of thinking; that of course, everyone had a Bible. It would not have dawned on me in a thousand years that those pastors and leaders would not have their own Bible. I probably have 20 Bibles in my possession in several different versions and I did not have to skip buying a loaf of bread to acquire them!!
In 2004 my husband, Ted, and I went back to Uganda and taught in A Bible College for six months. (An awesome experience!!) While we were there a man we had met one time when we stopped in Holland en route to Uganda, donated 500 euros (about $700) for Bibles in Uganda. We were able to purchase several cases of Bibles in the local language and distribute them. One of our students was a pastor and he took a number of Bibles back to his church and gave them to his leaders. He told us that one of his leaders jumped and danced for joy that he finally had a Bible of his own.
Do we treasure God's word, and hide it in our hearts, or has it become "old hat" to us. Is it something we partake of every day? The scripture is all the things listed above and more. It is like a hammer that can break up the hardest heart and make it pliable in His hands. It nourishes us, it washes us (Ephesians 5:26), it gives light to our path. It creates faith in our hearts. "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17.
Let's being anew today to treasure God's word, to hide it in our hearts; let it wash and cleanse us and let it create faith in our hearts.
Tomorrows Bible Reading - 2 Samuel 20-21, Jeremiah 24, Romans 12
God is good all the time,
2 comments:
What a great testimony!
Wow, you made me cry with this testimony, great word!
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