Some People look down on those who do not bring their Bible to church but utilize a Bible application on their electronic device (smartphone or pad). I have even heard of people quoting Romans 1:16 in criticism concerning this so-called, “shameful testimony”; it is really quite a stretch.
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| Mark |
Thanks to technology, we get the face objectively lit up in real time, saint or ain't, and not from an artisan’s rendition. It is really noticeable when the lights in the audience are dim, and many in the congregation using electronic devices have a “heavenly” glow about them from the speaker’s perspective. Beverly carries her Bible, but I am one of those digital saints, sporting the glow-head-look. Now when I speak, I prefer using a Bible though I am not opposed to others using pads.
There was a question posed to a popular evangelist as to why he used a small Bible rather than a larger one. He replied, “Why do you carry a large Bible?” It truly was a ridiculous question to ask him. Do larger Bibles project to others that you are more spiritual? Behind that inane interrogative was the suggestion that this evangelist was embarrassed in some way to be seen carrying God’s Word in public which explains why he carried one that would fit the inside pocket of his suit coat! It was disturbing to some legalists, “He was an evangelist, of all things!”
Whether you are a Bible-toting or a Bible-app-toting saint, the question we need to ask is this. Are the words of God stuck in our hands or is it embedded within our hearts? It’s really not the size of the Bible that counts, but rather if God’s Word is truly being found within the heart. Do we not realize that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Lk 6:45)? By listening to people converse, it doesn’t take long to discover what is dominating their hearts and minds. Expressing the ego, making money, telling jokes, or spreading gossip are itching and popular subjects; sharing the Word is not so “hip.
Read the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 119:11 from three versions (emphasis mine),
“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”
The NASB translates this verse, “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.”
The ESV puts it this way, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
Incidentally, citing this verse three times to point out the words, hidden, treasured, or stored, reminds me of when a believer once decided to inform me that it was unnecessary to quote various versions because “he got it” on the first one. I may offer different translations or paraphrases, but it is never done to purposely patronize anyone, only to reveal the nuances and viewpoints of a passage of Scripture. Since I am not a KJO, it only proves to some that I am a heretic!
I think that my critic must have gotten hit between the eyes about something because I write to an array of people! I say that because it is analogous to what a famous preacher once said, “When you throw a rock into a pack of dogs, you know the one that got hit; the dog that yelps the loudest.” The funny thing is this; I wasn’t intentionally throwing any stones but just laying out the truth with purity of motive!
The Psalmist is asking an instructive question, “How can a young man cleanse his way [conduct, added]” (Psa 119:9a)? He is concerned about purity or holiness before the LORD. Under the auspices of the Holy Spirit, in Psa 119:9b-16 we have the answers to moral purity (emphasis mine).
“By taking heed according to Your word” (Psa 119:9b).
“With my whole heart I have sought You” (Psa 119:10a). We have a tendency to stray from seeking after God if we are not wholly committed, “Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments” (Psa 119:10b)! Do we ever worry about that, straying from the truth? Have you ever attempted to draw a straight line freehand? We can't which is why we need a straight-edged ruler. The Word of God serves as a ruler to help guide us along the straight and narrow path.
“Your word I have hidden in my heart” (Psa 119:11a). For what purpose? “That I might not sin against You” (Psa 119:11b). How incredibly wise and a high regard for Yahweh's holiness! It's unheard of in sinful man!
He recognized Yahweh’s worthiness of praise and his own need of being taught, “Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes” (Psa 119:12). What an attitude is this (cf. Psa 119:102)!
He shares the statutes of the LORD with others, “With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth” (Psa 119:13).
“I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies” (Psa 119:14). This is far better than whining or complaining to others about our circumstances!
“I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways” (Psa 119:15; cf. Psa 1:2; Josh 1:8).
“I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word” (Psa 119:16). Perhaps, this object of delight helps us to remember; in addition, we have the Holy Spirit.
Without a doubt, these are not the actions of a fake or disingenuous saint or a HI-HO saint, half-in/half-out or one foot in the world and one foot in church! We get the clear impression the Word of God is very important to the life of the psalmist. His life orbits around the Person of Yahweh and His word, commandments, statutes, judgments, testimonies, and precepts. We cannot be holy as He is holy if these things below are not a spiritual reality in our lives.
If our lifestyle is not in agreement with Scripture, v9.
If we are not seeking God with our whole heart, fully committed to His commandments, v10.
If we do not treasure the word in our heart to keep from sinning against the LORD, v11.
If we do not have a teachable spirit, v12.
If we are not sharing the truths of God’s word with others, v13.
If we are not rejoicing in the ways of God, v14.
If we are not meditating and regarding the ways of God, v15.
If we have no delight in God's Word and intentionally forget it, v16.
There’s a whole bunch to expound upon here, but that is not the scope of this article. Rather, the question is how do we carry the Word of God in the daily routines of life? I do not know about you, but whenever I visit Psalm 119, I see how vital the Word of God is to the life of every believer, and I realize just how far I fall short in synchronizing my way to the ways of God! His Word must dominate our lifestyle as a rule of life.
Should we examine closer what was listed above, it would only magnify the disparity between the walk of holiness according to God and our personal interpretation or implementation of what constitutes a holy walk before the Lord. Since God is all-knowing, Jer 17:9-10 reveals we cannot keep the true nature of our walk (think-style preceding behavior) from God though we may fool others or ourselves or both.
Strange as it may seem, when we treasure, hide or store His Word in our hearts, we might not sin against God, but in the process, it is inevitably going to be seen by others. I say that because of the truth – out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The heart is the seat of the intellect, emotions, and will. To be holy as He is holy, our thinking, feeling, and choosing must be in harmony with the will of God which is always according to His Word; we easily get the truth of that from Psalm 119 and a host of other places. I am of the opinion if we are not Bible-centric in our thinking, we are missing out on the will of God, and that translates into a caravan of carnality in our thinking, saying, and doing.
When we treasure the word as in great riches, this changes us from within, and we become a light on the hill for all to see (cf. Mt 5:14). The glow from being with Jesus is evident to all. If we live a life as if the Word of God does not enrich us, we wind up pretending to be a person who believes the Bible is the supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and practice, but in reality, the Word is not valued as one who finds a great treasure, and the hypocrisy will let itself be known.
It is not rocket science what is dominating the heart; all one has to do is listen to their talk. People camouflaging as believers reveal that the Word is not playing a dominant role in their thinking, feelings, and choices in life. They are merely blending in with their surroundings, rationalizing important decisions by the circumstances. There is little to virtually no evidence that he or she has internalized and integrated the truths of Scripture into living the Life. Hearing how people talk nowadays, you have to really begin to wonder about their opinions concerning the Bible, such as, “I believe the Bible is the Word of God,” but their lifestyle tells another story. We will not commit to Whom we do not love (cf. Jn 15:14).
Holy Writ, in book or software form or on the big screen/s in worship services is still Holy Writ. If we are only carrying the Word in our hand, purse, pocket, pouch, or clip and it rarely, if ever, reaches the heart, we are merely being pretentious.
You have read where Jesus spoke of the hypocrisy in Israel where they honor God with their lips, but their hearts are from Him. In this matter of how we carry the Bible in our lives, we have to ask if we are honoring God with only our hands to be seen by men when in reality we don’t plan to pick the Bible back up again until the following Sunday, provided we even show up for the worship service at church?
Take your Bible or electronic device with its Bible apps to church if you are so inclined, but if there is nothing in the heart tank of the Word, you are just lugging for looks and wasting your time even attending church (some will disagree with me on that one). One cannot draw from an empty storehouse in times of difficulty (cf. Job 23:12). How do you carry the Word with the remaining 165+ hours in the week after church? We need to carry it in such a way that we are at least able to give an answer to those who would ask us a reason for the hope that is within us (1 Pet 3:15; cf. 2 Pet 3:18).
We need more of the Word of God lighting up our countenance supernaturally for others to see. We should let our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven (Mt 5:16; cf. Psa 89:12; Jn 8:12; Eph 5:8). How do you carry the Word on Sunday and throughout the week: with your hands only or with your heart?
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Josh 1:8, emphasis mine). <><
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