Hiding and Proclaiming God’s Word

Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 8, 2018

By Tripp Prince

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11 (NIV)

Growing up in a faithful Christian home, these words from Psalm 119 were shared and known within our family before I could even speak. And for a single verse of Scripture, it certainly covers a lot of ground! It reminds us that God can be known, that he speaks creation into being and sustains it with his word and continually desires to be known by his children. It also reminds us of our inclination to move away from this relationship of love and instead choose the path of autonomy and self-fulfillment. Sin turns our desires away from the life of God, like a misaligned car that pulls away from the straight path set before it. And so, the remedy presented is to hide the word of God in our hearts, to open ourselves to the renewing presence of God and invite his Spirit to renew and transform us, teaching us what it means to be truly human and fully alive to his work in our lives and in the world.

And yet, if we read this verse in isolation, I fear we may only understand one half of the story. Our transformation into the likeness of Christ is not meant simply for our good or personal happiness. God places his word in our hearts so that we can share that word with the world around us. We are invited to be agents of his Kingdom mission to heal and restore the world.

“I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation” (Psalm 40:10 ESV).

Though it may sound paradoxical, the call of God on our lives is to at the same time hide and not hide his word within our hearts. A healthy life of discipleship must pay attention to both of these realities, and in my experience, most of us are more naturally drawn to one or the other.

For some, private prayer and devotion is the heartbeat of your life. You love to meet the Lord in the intimate moments of prayer and meditation, letting your thoughts and desires be formed by his word. Yet the thought of speaking to others about your faith is foreign and unchartered territory! The Lord might be inviting you today to step out in a bold and courageous way.

Likewise, many of us are drawn to an active and public faith. You may feel most alive in times of public worship, evangelism, or service to your community in the name of Christ. And yet, your activism has run ahead of your personal walk with the Lord, and you may be running the risk of burnout and exhaustion. You must nurture your hidden walk with the Lord in order to sustain your love for the needy and the lost.

Hear afresh the words of the Psalms and learn to both faithfully hide and boldly proclaim the word of God!

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