With Ash Wednesday upon us, now is a good time to search our hearts and cleanse our spirits in preparation for Easter, the day we celebrate our Lord's resurrection. To help, Christian Book Distributors is offering a free daily Lenten Devotional delivered to your email inbox.

Many may think of Lent as just another Catholic ritual, but the spirit behind it is one of cleansing and renewal. It is a time of self-evaluation and commitment to live a life for Christ, rather than oneself.

As we go into the Lenten season, pray that God would search you and reveal any wicked way in you (Psalm 139:23-24), whether sins of omission or commission. Commit to change, not only for Lent, but every day of your life.

The following is the fifth and final in a series teaching what we ought to be doing with the Scriptures. We previously learned the Word should: dwell in us richly, be examined daily, be hidden in our hearts, and be our delight.

And you shall teach them (i.e., these Words of Mine, v. 18) to your sons by speaking of them as you sit in your house, and as you walk in the way, and as you lie down, and as you rise up. (Deuteronomy 11:19, LITV)

This verse is primarily for parents, but it has application for anyone who spends time with children or who someday will. The point here is that every part of the day can have a teaching moment that exposes your child(ren) to the truths of the Word of God. Take time to sit down and study the Bible with them. Talk with them about the things of God while you're in the car. Help them evaluate their day as they prepare for bed. Look with them for the opportunities to serve God as they begin each day.

All this can be intimidating for someone who's not in the Scriptures regularly, but if we apply the advice of Scripture itself as we have studied over the past few weeks, it is a much less daunting task.

Did your parents talk often of the Scriptures and the ways of God? How has their witness, or lack thereof, had an impact in your life? Based on your answers and the teaching of Scripture, how important do you think it is to teach your children what the Bible says?
What are some ways a parent or other caregiver of children could incorporate the Word of God into the day?

The following is the fourth in a series teaching what we ought to be doing with the Scriptures. We previously learned the Word should: dwell in us richly, be examined daily, and be hidden in our hearts.

But his delight is only in the Law of Jehovah, and he meditates in His Law day and night. (Psalm 1:2, LITV)

Psalm 1 contrasts the righteous and the ungodly. Verse two reveals the fourth action we should be taking with the Scriptures: taking pleasure in God's Word, both in reading and doing it. Our desire should be to study His Word. What God says are the right things to do must matter to us.

This love for God's Word will lead us to think about it throughout the day. Things we have learned and taken time to meditate on will come to mind when we need them and will give us strength to do what's right. Eventually the right thing will often come naturally because it has been so engrained in us.

Read the six verses of Psalm 1 and note the differences between the ungodly and the righteous. Look at the actions taken (or not taken) and the rewards or consequences that follow.
In what area(s) could you improve to ensure you are like a tree planted by rivers of water?

For further study (optional): Use some commentaries to learn more about verse one. Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible is particularly enlightening. It is available for free from e-Sword.net

The following is the third in a series teaching what we ought to be doing with the Scriptures. We previously learned the Word should: dwell in us richly and be examined daily.

I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You. (Psalm 119:11, LITV)

There are two parts to this verse. The first is the action taken: hiding God's Word in your heart. What does it mean to "hide" the Word? This is another opportunity to compare some translations to get a better understanding of a verse. (Refer to What Should We Do with the Scriptures? (Part One) for information on the Bibles used.)

1965 Bible in Basic English: I have kept your sayings secretly in my heart. . .
Contemporary English Version (CEV): In my heart I store up your words. . .
Good News Bible (GNB): I keep your law in my heart. . .

Of additional assistance is the Strong's Dictionary definition for the word rendered "hidden": "A primitive root; to hide (by covering over); by implication to hoard or reserve; figuratively to deny; specifically (favorably) to protect, (unfavorably) to lurk: - esteem, hide (-den one, self), lay up, lurk (be set) privily, (keep) secret (-ly, place)."

The second part of the verse reveals one reward of hiding God's Word in your heart: protection against sinning. That's just one more terrific reason to get into the Word. Whenever you are faced with a decision, God is able to remind you of principles from His Word to show you the right way.

Think of a time when you were faced with a dilemma and God brought to mind a verse that kept you from making a mistake.
Was there a time you wish you had had God's Word in your heart to guide you through a dilemma?
Was there a time God reminded you of a teaching in His Word and you didn't follow it? What happened? How did it make you feel afterwards?

The following is the second in a series teaching what we ought to be doing with the Scriptures. We previously learned the Word should dwell in us richly.

And these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the Word with all readiness, daily examining the Scriptures if these things are so. (Acts 17:11, LITV)

Note they were not just reading, but examining the Scriptures. Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary of American English defines this word as "inspecting carefully; searching or inquiring into; interrogating; trying or assaying by experiment." Strong's defines the Greek as "properly to scrutinize, that is, (by implication) investigate, interrogate, determine"

Observe also the attitude with which they approached their studies. It was "with all readiness" [of mind]. That is, they were eager and willing. Their study was neither forced nor a drudgery.

Have your Bible studies become a drudgery? Pray for renewed motivation to examine the scriptures.
Is your examination of the Scriptures nothing more than passive reading that yields little fruit? Challenge yourself this week to go deeper.

The Bible tells us five things we should be doing with the Scriptures. Today, we will look at the first of these.

Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom teaching and exhorting yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16, LITV)

What does "dwell in you richly" mean? Let's compare a couple other translations. This will show how less literal versions might be used as commentary.

1965 Bible in Basic English: . . .be in you in all wealth [of wisdom;]. . .
Contemporary English Version (CEV): . . .completely fill your lives. . .
Good News Bible: [Christ's message] in all its richness must live in your hearts.

Does the Word of Christ dwell in you richly? Does it show in the way you teach and exhort (i.e., encourage others to do good deeds)?
Think of people you know in whom the Word of Christ dwells richly. What is the evidence of such dwelling?

About the translations:
LITV: Literal Translation of the Holy Bible, copyright © 1976-2000 by Jay P. Green, Sr. All rights reserved.
1965 Bible in Basic English: Public Domain, uses only 1000 different English words to communicate the entire Bible.
Scriptures marked as "(CEV)" are taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.
Scriptures marked as "(GNB)" are taken from the Good News Bible – Second Edition © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.

The one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you haven't been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will entrust you with the true riches? And if you haven't been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you your own? (Luke 16:10-12, New English Translation)

"Lord, if You show me something important to do for You this week, I'll do it."

This might be our prayer after a particularly inspiring sermon or devotional. We depart from the message with gusto to serve the Lord and can't wait to see the big assignment God has waiting for us that same week.

But in reality, that's not how it works. Take David for instance. When we first meet him in 1 Samuel 16, he is a shepherd-boy being anointed as the future king. Although God had seen a king for Himself (v. 1) in the heart (v. 7) of David, there would be many years of preparation before this boy would become King of Israel. Years filled with humbly serving as a shepherd, playing his harp for the man he would someday replace, and running for his life, even resisting the temptation to take the life of the one who sought to kill him. He showed he was faithful in the little things, meanwhile building his character and confidence in God, and was rewarded with the big things, the esteem of being the forerunner of the One whose reign will never end.

Do you seek the true riches? Start small. Show you're able to be a good steward of the resources God has already given you. Serve Him gladly in your job, your relationships, your resources, all your responsibilities, so that with time you may receive assignments with eternal significance.