Pierced by, Power from, and Passion for The Word
I mentioned in early post about the amazing book, Pierced By the Word by John Piper. I love the book! It really pierces my heart. The main idea of the book is that God’s Word truly is alive and active, a double-edged sword. (Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”) There was a time in my life when I would never welcome anyone or anything into my marrow or the thoughts and attitudes of my heart but now…life is different. I invite God to examine heart. I ask Him to show me anything that is not of Him. I submit to His rending of those things, sometimes not joyfully but I get credit for submitting. I realize that He wants the best for me and from me. His Word helps me get to that place, the place of His best for me and from me.
Today in my quiet time I read through Psalm 119. Have you read it lately? I remember a time that I would not have sat down and read all 176 verses at one time. It would have taken too long but now, wow, those are some powerful verses. If you want to fall in love with His Word, read this Psalm. The Psalmist cries out to God to teach him, help him, and show him the way to go. I love the words. This guy (I assume that it is a man.) writes from a heart that has been pierced by the Word and wants more. He has seen the power of the Word and wants me. He has passion for the Word and wants more. Do you? Do I?
The verses that stick out to me in today’s reading was verse 5 and 6:
Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your principles! The I will not be disgraced when I compare my life with your commands.”
He used the “oh.” I heard the desperation in his voice. Did you? These words must have been shouted because he ended the sentence with an exclamation point. He was shouting, loudly, begging God to have reign over him so that what he did would be a reflection of the principles he loved. Why? Why did he exclaim this to the Lord? Read verse 6. He compared his life to the Lord’s life. He did not want to be disgraced. I can relate.
This really hit me. In comparison to the Lord’s life, I fall short. We all do. But I want to have a comparison that more closely resembles Him. Don’t you? I will always fall short because I am human and He is God. However, I want to know that when He examines my heart He sees my reflection looking more and more like Him and less like me.
His Word is alive and active, isn’t it? And that was just two verses.