The Treasure We Take for Granted

"I keep your law in my heart, so that I will not sin against you. I praise you, O Lord; teach me your ways. I will repeat aloud all the laws you have given. I delight in following your commands more than in having great wealth. I study your instructions; I examine your teachings. I take pleasure in your laws; your commands I will not forget." Psalms 119:11-16 GNB

This portion of Scripture struck me because of the writer's obvious love for God's Word. Jesus taught that our hearts would be where our treasure is (Matthew 6:21, Luke 12:34). The fact that the writer keeps the Word in his heart is a sign of how much he treasures it. Not only does this person know God's Word, but he delves deeper into it and follows it. That is a standard I strive for.

      I make it a point to constantly read about the experiences of Christians in countries where the environment towards Christianity is hostile. There are many places (such as North Korea, Bhutan, and Uzbekistan) where it is illegal to be a Christian or where Christians face intense persecution. People have to hide their faith or be beaten, tortured, imprisoned, have resources taken from them, or killed. Bibles have to be hidden and often shared among large groups. Many believers don't even have a Bible. 

      I have seen pictures of how people look when they finally get one. They smile wide or look at it with adoration. It is a prize, their treasure. Honestly, this has given me a deeper appreciation for my Bible. I'd been consistent with my reading and devotionals, but I never loved the Word the way I do now. I have such a reverence for it.

      Many are so spoiled in America (I was and still am in many areas). We have the Bible readily available to us virtually everywhere we go. We can purchase one in numerous stores, openly carry one almost anywhere we go, or access it through our mobile devices. That is not a reality for Christians around the world. We're lucky, though, if many American Christians even look at their Bible at some point in the day or week.
      Our walk wouldn't survive the trials others around the world face because we don't treasure God's word. It is not a priority. 

      This week, as I read about Christians in countries where they face hostility and persecution, a thought struck me. I was reading about different people who have waited years just to receive a Bible. Some never even owned a Bible. Others had lost them when they were confiscated or destroyed by their persecutors. I wondered what it would be like without a Bible. How would I sustain my faith without the Word that brings me comfort, wisdom, and encouragement? 

       I heard Pastor Tim Delina preach at a convention on October 31st and November 1st. Something he said struck me: "Many people don't know the voice of God because they don't know the Word of God. His voice sounds just like His Word." 

      I'd never thought about it like that, but it is why so often people who spend consistent time in God's Word have a stronger connection to Him. They have a better understanding of what God wants, as well as the faith and confidence to approach Him. They are able to hear His voice through trials when so many other voices flood their minds.

      Though I have come to a point where I treasure the Word of God, I want to know the Bible well enough to have it in my heart should there ever come a situation I don't have it. I want to be able to recite it to myself to the point where I could do devotions off memory if my Bible was ever confiscated and I didn't have access to another. I want to be so familiar with the Word of God that I know the voice of God even without it.