8I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly. 9Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. -Psalm 119:8-11 (KJV)
Most of us have been raised on music and movies of all sorts. I have so many song lyrics and movie quotes in my head that they frequently make their way into daily conversation. The other evening Andrea and I were Christmas shopping and she was looking over a display of men’s corduroy pants. She asked me if I might want a pair for Christmas. I never wear corduroy, so I said “Honey, I don’t want to be the boy in the corduroy pants.” Her brow wrinkled in concentration as she mulled this over. “Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers!” she said. “Correct!” I then sang the verse for verification; “I’ll be the boy, in the corduroy pants, you be the girl, at the high school dance.” It could be the crowds and excitement of the season was making us a little giddy.
Countless songs and movie lines make their way into our collective consciousness, but what about the riches of God’s Word? This treasure trove of wisdom, truth, counsel, spiritual guidance, and the ways of righteousness goes overlooked by scores of people who could greatly benefit from it. The Word of God speaks of the power of placing the Word within our hearts. Doing so empowers us to stand firm and resist the temptations which daily assault us. God’s Word provides spiritual strength we can rely on when faced with temptation, heartache, frustration, and discouragement. We know these will come and we do well to be prepared.
One of the wonders of a vibrant relationship with Christ is the spiritual power He gives to stand firm in the face of life’s trials. No matter who you are or your station in life Christ can become personal to you. Consider all the ways Christ relates to us:
To the artist, He is the One altogether lovely.
To the architect, He is the Chief Corner Stone.
To the astronomer, He is the Sun of Righteousness.
To the baker, He is the Living Bread.
To the banker, He is the Hidden Treasure.
To the biologist, He is the Life.
To the builder, He is the Sure Foundation.
To the Carpenter, He is the Door.
To the doctor, He is the Great Physician.
To the educator, He is the Great Teacher.
To the engineer, He is the New and Living Way.
To the farmer, He is the Sower and the Lord of the Harvest.
To the florist, He is the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley.
To the geologist, He is the Rock of Ages.
To the horticulturist, He is the True Vine.
To the theologian, He is the Author and Finisher of our faith.
To the toiler, He is the Giver of Rest.
To the sinner, He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.
To the Christian, He is the Son of the Living God, the Savior, the Redeemer, and Lord.
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