Bible Reading: Psalm 119: 1-33
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11 (KJV
The world is full of challenges, trials and temptations. One needs to constantly guard himself to remain in faith. Even your close associates can cause you to fall if care is not taken while they think they are helping you. When Job was facing challenges, the wife felt it was rather too much for him and so was looking for an easy way out for him and so advised him in Job 2:9 tKJV): “Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.”
If Job had listened to her, his end would have been worse than his beginning. But Job’s answer showed he understood the implication of sinning against God. And when one realizes that every sin committed is a sin against God, our maker, that should make you a lot more cautious. Our God tells us in Romans 6:23 (KJV), “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” So everyone that commits sin is responsible for his own death and causing the death of what you did not create is sinning against the creator. No wonder Joseph said concerning having an affair with his master’s wife, in Genesis 39:9 (KJV), “There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
What then do you do to avoid sinning against your creator? It’s by first giving your life to Jesus who will cleanse you and then give you a heart of flesh that will cause you to be compassionate and love God. Then you need to continuously study the word of God so as to know him and his ways. Studying the word of God is in various stages. You start by reading the words, then you move to study the passages. This entails a detailed analysis of the various sections that you read noting the purpose for which the passage is written, the lessons from there and how to apply the message in day to day living. Thereafter you need to meditate on the word. This means taking a phrase, verse or some verses and ruminating over it, turning it over in your mind, asking God to shed more light on it. While pondering on it, you will also need to train your mind to listen to the Holy Spirit as some revelations may be given to you on it.
Then, you move to memorise some verses of the bible. These verses are what you will use to address any issue that confronts you particularly when you may not have time to open your bible. When temptations come, it will usually be in form of some suggestions to your heart. The words of God that you memorise will be used to counter such offensive by Satan. This is why it is written in Psalm 119:11 (KJV): “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
Action Point: Pick some verses and begin to commit them to memory. U can start by memorizing a verse per week.
Bro Biodun Oyapero