Head or Heart

Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. Psalm 119:11

The church I attended as a teenager had two doors at the front of the auditorium ~ one at each side of the pulpit area. Above each door a Bible verse was displayed. Titus 3:5,6 was one and Psalm 119:11 was the other. Because I read them each week they became forever imbedded in my memory. I remember adults saying that memorizing God’s Word is the same as “hiding” it and will keep you from sinning. I found myself saying the same thing years later to students. “Memorizing God’s Word,” I’d say, “Is the way to avoid sin.” Funny how we all seemed to miss that little word “heart.”

You see, Psalm 119:11 does not say to hide God’s Word in our head. It says to hide it in our heart. There IS a difference!

I can store knowledge in my head but that won’t necessarily affect my actions. Knowing and doing are two very different things. Ask anyone who has gotten a speeding ticket if they know the rules of the road. Yet their knowledge did not deter them from speeding. Ask any students if they know the classroom rules, and they’ll recite them with ease. Yet the assigned sentences will reveal their knowledge did not hinder them from disobedience.

My point is we can know a lot about God’s Word. We can know the things God says to do and not to do. But until that knowledge gets into our heart we will not be affected by it. Our actions, words, and attitudes stem from our hearts. They reveal what is in our heart. God is so passionate about His law being in our heart that He says He will write it there. (Jeremiah 31:33)

An easy way to tell whether God’s Word has been hidden or treasured in my heart is to look for change in my thinking, words, actions, and attitudes. If I know a lot more than I show, this indicates my heart has yet to take it in. One word of caution though. The Pharisees were experts at knowing the law and living by the letter of the law but it completely bi passed their hearts. Of course when they did this they lacked in joy and love but abounded in criticism, judgment, and harshness.

So we must take it to heart ~ take it ALL to heart!

Father, I don’t want your words to stay in my head. I want them to make themselves at home in my heart and bring true change in my life. Amen.