There is a lot of great things about being a follower of Christ. When you think about it, you are a child of God, you are an eternal being, and you have a place in the mansions of Heaven. All really great stuff. But, there is one thing that is even greater than all of that.
You are no longer accused of sin. What a tremendous joy that is!
Sadly, many Christians do not live with that joy. They live with doubt and worry that there has been, or will be, that one sin that will remove you from the roll call of Heaven. One way that you can live in that joy of assurance in the saving grace of God is through storing His Word in your heart.
Psalm 119 is an amazing Psalm. Long, but pretty amazing. Contained within the 176 verses of this psalm, is the words of pure joy in knowing God’s Word. This powerful truth is found in verse 11; “I have stored up your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (ESV)
The power of these words can not be overlooked. The psalmist says that he has stored up God’s Word in his heart. Not just in his mind. But, it has taken up residence in his heart. It has become a part of his daily actions, his daily thoughts, his daily decisions, his daily service, his daily being. It encompasses every part of every thing that he does. And that brings him joy. Why? The verse doesn’t actually say that… or does it. Listen to what he says is the hope found in storing up God’s Word in his heart; “… that I might not sin against you.”
The fact of the matter is, we are all sinners. But, through the grace of God, through the obedience of Christ, and the power of the resurrection which defeated death and tore away the veil, thus the presence of God is before us, we now have forgiveness of those sins (1 John 2). And that, my friends, is the essence of joy. Jesus said that His joy completes our joy. His joy was you. Seeing you saved from your sins. But…
You can not live in that joy, inward or outward, if you do not store up God’s Word in your heart so that you might not sin against Him. See how that works? The joy of storing up God’s Word in your heart is the knowledge that through His Word you have power over the sinful temptations. As well, you also have the knowledge of Jesus Christ who died on the cross to redeem you from your sin. So, if you do happen to sin (the scripture says ‘might’ after all), you have the joy of continued restoration through His eternal intercession (Hebrews 7:25).
Take the time each day to store up God’s Word in your heart. Make a time, which you keep, to read the Scriptures. Use a reading plan. Join a reading group on social media. Listen to it through audio books. Whichever method you choose… store up God’s Word so you heart will abound in divine joy.
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