The Heart of Purity, Part 2

“I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119.11

The psalmist continues to highlight the link between God’s Word and pure living. Having cried to the Lord for protection from wandering (119.10), he now shows the faithful effort he is making to guard himself. He stores up God’s Word in his heart. He treasures the Scripture. It dominates his thinking, affections, and will.

This is consistent with the biblical picture of sanctification. The apostle Paul encouraged the Philippians, “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil.2.12b-13). Progressive sanctification (growth in Christlikeness) is a process in which God enables believers to pursue righteousness by faith and works through those efforts to make the believer more like Christ.

Key in that process is the storing up of God’s Word. As the psalmist reveals, one key purpose for treasuring God’s Word is protection from sin. He stores up God’s Word in his heart, so that he can live the way God desires. Scripture reveals God’s mind and will. If we are to avoid offending him, avoid sinning against him, we must treasure what his revelation teaches us about him, his mind, and his will for our lives.

Do you treasure God’s Word? How are you storing his word in your heart—allowing it to affect your thinking, affections, and will?

Gracious Lord, may our love for you and your Word grow. May we treasure your Word, and may it have its perfect result in our lives.

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