Priceless Treasure

Have you ever watched “Antiques Roadshow”?  I love when people bring in a family heirloom or thrift-store find to discover the knick-knack that has been gracing the fireplace mantel is actually a priceless item worth thousands of dollars.  People cry, laugh, or just sit there in shock and unbelief. And because I am a sympathetic crier, I am grabbing tissues as I optimistically look for “treasures” in my own home wondering if the toothpick holder in my china cupboard is a priceless relic from some ancient civilization just waiting to be “discovered” at the next “Roadshow” or just what it is; a toothpick holder from the ’50s.  In the middle of my search, I see my Bible…

My pastor showed our class a video of a tribe in Indonesia receiving Bibles that had just been translated into their own language.  As the plane landed and the translators stepped off the plane the Indonesian people were singing, dancing, laughing, crying, and clapping.  They could not contain themselves in their joy.  As the Bibles were placed in the hands of the pastor, he held them up and prayed to thank God for His faithfulness in giving them this priceless gift as tears streamed down his face.  As I left that night to go home, I wept.  I was so ashamed.  I begged God’s forgiveness.  I have access not only to a Bible in my language but many different translations.  I am sure there are over 10 Bibles in my house and I have taken it for granted.  The precious Word of God at my fingertips and sometimes I have to wipe the dust off before I read it.  To read God’s Word was, at times, a drudgery and one more thing to cross off my list of things I needed to do. I would instead, read “spiritual” books that relieved the itch in my ears (2 timothy 4:3). I had forgotten what a priceless item was in my possession until I saw the reverence and awe those people of Indonesia had for God’s Word.  Those simple people and their outrageous love for the Bible brought Psalm 119: 103 to life: “How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

It was a transforming of my mind and heart that night. A conviction that reminded me to not treat God’s Word as something cheap and easily cast aside because, in reality, we have been given a precious, priceless gift in God’s Word.  Let us be like the Psalmist who proclaims, “…my heart stands in awe of Your words.” (Psalm 119:161b)

In awe of His Word with you today,

Lisa

Just Listen

A few weeks ago, I sat in church with my Bible on my lap, my journal by my side, my reading glasses perched just right so I could see our pastor but still read the verses he read aloud to us and waited with great expectation to hear an amazing revelation, a new thing, an “aha” moment from God’s Word.  I’m not going to lie, I was disappointed.  We were looking at a passage of Scripture I have read at least one hundred times and nothing new jumped out at me. I put my journal away and it took all my effort to stay focused and alert through the sermon. 

My times alone with God and His Word were feeling the same way.  I was quickly losing the desire to study His Word because I felt like the Holy Spirit was holding out on me.  My times in the Word seemed boring because I wanted each and every time to be some great revelation or deep truth that I could journal eight pages with cross-references and commentaries.  It wasn’t always this way, so I had to think back to when my times with God were my favorite part of the day and I just couldn’t seem to get enough. What was the difference?

I realized my expectations during those “feasting” times were different then.  I wasn’t only reading God’s Word to find some deep theological truth.  I wanted to hear His voice.  I longed to hear my Father tell me about Himself.  What His plans were.  Stories of what He has done and will do.  Hear the love in His voice as he tells me where I fit into the family and His work. I rested in His words, took delight in His creativity, and experienced drop-jaw awe as He told me about His power.  There were many times I wasn’t necessarily learning anything new about Him, but was being reminded, lest I forget.

There will be times when we read God’s Word and the Holy Spirit will take us on a theological journey that will have us writing page after page in our prayer journals and then there will be times where God just wants us to hear Him speak; to connect with Him on a level that goes deeper than anything we can experience elsewhere.

My Friend, ^“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV))

Listen to what He has to tell you today. He is there.  He is able to save.  He delights in you.  He will quiet those riotous places and sing over you.  Wow!  Our Father has a beautiful voice and I have a renewed longing to hear it more often.  How about you?

Listening more with you today,

Lisa