Casandra Martin

Psalm 119:129-136

It was a lovely surprise. The box held treasures, each one wrapped in tissue paper. It wasn’t a gift to rush through. It was a gift to savor and enjoy as I soaked in the love, history, and connection folded up in a box. I watched the smile on my friend’s face as I unwrapped the paper. I’m not sure who was more excited. The delight of giving mingled with the blessing of receiving, and I found myself wanting to stretch the moment out. Each time I unfolded a new piece of the gift, I found myself more intrigued about what was to come. The time, effort, and love poured into the gift spoke grace and friendship into my heart.

Can you picture it? This kind of gift is exactly what the writer of the seventeenth stanza of Psalm 119 wants you to see. God’s Word is this kind of gift. It is wonderful, and has the ability to fill us with wonder. Every time we open a page, every time we come into God’s presence, every time we unfold the treasure He has for us, we are given a gift. Light, understanding, longing, stability, freedom, and redemption are ours when we take the time to receive what He wants to give us.

I’m not always sure that’s how I approach reading my Bible. Sometimes it feels like a duty, an obligation, a fact book, or something to rush through so I can check it off my list. God’s Word is so much more. It is the place where we come face-to-face with who He is and are transformed by the experience.

My Jesus Resolution today is to open my gift. I want to do it with all the anticipation, intensity, and delight of receiving a treasure. I want to be done with shallow reading in favor of deep meeting. I want to give myself over to the wild adventure of exploring the heart of God. God poured Himself onto a page, and every day invites me to receive my gift with joy. What awaits, if I’m brave enough, are transformation and a clearer reflection of Jesus.