Pastor’s Corner: “Hidden Treasure”
Psalm 119:11 (NLT) – 11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
I have had the privilege and joy for the past eight years to share Chapel messages with the children at Laguna Madre Christian Academy in Laguna Vista. Every Wednesday for Chapel the children pledge allegiance to the Christian flag, the American flag and the Bible. The last line of the pledge to the Bible is Psalm 119:11. The children at LMCA spend a good amount of effort on memorizing scripture and the children never fail to amaze me at what they are able to memorize.
When I was twelve, one of my good friends invited me to join him at his church where his dad was a pastor and participate in the AWANA Olympics. This was a program of physical games and activities that culminated in a final competition among churches in the city. Our group of friends was very active and competitive, so we conspired to sweep the games at the local AWANA Olympics. I was not brought up in the church, but this was very appealing to me. What I did not know was that the AWANA program includes Bible memorization with all the games and activities as a part of the competition. My friend had conveniently left this information out.
All I remember was that the Bible was so foreign to me and although I did not understand what I was reading, I was able to memorize large passages of scripture. I was all in and our team worked hard on both the physical activities and Bible memorization. We were totally committed to winning the AWANAS trophy which had not yet been accomplished at Whitney Baptist Church. We were set to make history. And we did, but it was a lot more work than I originally thought, especially the memorization of scripture.
What I did not know or comprehend was the impact that this scripture would have on the rest of my life. I later gave my life to Jesus Christ when I was twenty one years old, and the scripture that I had memorized but forgotten came back to me like a flood. This time not only did it make sense, it changed me. It changed the way I thought, it changed the way I talked and it changed my heart towards others. What was hidden became my greatest treasure.
When Psalm 119:11 speaks of hiding God’s word in our hearts, however, it is not referring only to memorization. This wording refers to what we might call internalizing God’s word: reading it, studying it, believing it, marinating in it, being filled with it, being shaped by it. If you memorize the whole Bible but are not being transformed by it, then you’re not hiding God’s word in your heart. If you are allowing the truth of God to guide you, teach you, admonish you, and form you, then you are hiding it in your heart, even if you can’t perfectly quote dozens of biblical passages.
By all means, develop the discipline of memorizing Scripture. But, even more, develop the discipline of letting God’s word fill your heart, mold your character, direct your behavior, and change your life. What is in your heart? Where is your treasure? Matthew 6:21 (NIV) – 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton