Living God's Word
Observe [God’s Word] carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. – Deuteronomy 4:6,9
The Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land. But God has something to say to his people through Moses before they would go into that land.
He says to them in the words above, “You have seen my love for you in action. And I’ve given you my Word. I have told you what I want you to do and what I don’t want you to do. And you have seen that it is all for your good, because I love you and want what’s best for you. Like a parent who sets down rules for his children to follow, they are for your benefit.
“The people around you know about my Word that you follow as well. They know about it by the way you conduct yourself. The life you live gives evidence to who you are and who you follow and what you are all about. When you obey what I have told you, others around you will say of you, ‘They are such wise and understanding people.’ They will see how you love me and how you love one another.
“But when you are surrounded by people who do not believe what you do, who do not know me as the true and only God, who do not know my love, you will be tempted to put aside my laws and live as the rest of the world does. Be careful. Watch yourselves closely. Don’t forget the things you have seen with your own eyes. Don’t let my Word slip from your hearts. Remember, I love you. I have called you to be different than the sinful world around you. I have called you to be a light among darkness. I have called you to be my own.
“And these laws that I have given to you for your good, they are for your children too. Teach them my Word. They too will be tempted to give up on me and join in the ways of the world. It’s your job to teach them of my grace and mercy.”
Dear friends, these words are for us too. God has given us his Word. In that Word, he has revealed himself and his great love for us. He has made us his through the blood of our Savior, Jesus. And now he calls us to live a life of love through him and for him. As blood bought souls of Christ we gladly want to obey his Word. And we know that he gives us his Word for our good, he wants what’s best for us too. And when we live according to his Word people around us see that. Be careful that you don’t slip and put aside God’s Word. Repent for the times you have put yourself and the world before your God. And receive the forgiveness Jesus has won for you. And then live a life a love. Love for God. Love for your neighbor.
And don’t forget to teach these words to your children and your grandchildren. And everyone else God has placed into your life. You have been given the words of everlasting life. You have been given the word that is a lamp for our path through this life. Know that Word. Live it. Share it.
(The above text comes from the First Lesson from this coming Sunday, when we begin our new series, “Don’t Say You are a Christian, Be One.” We will see how we have been called be a Christian not just with words, not just sometimes, but with our whole life.)
He says to them in the words above, “You have seen my love for you in action. And I’ve given you my Word. I have told you what I want you to do and what I don’t want you to do. And you have seen that it is all for your good, because I love you and want what’s best for you. Like a parent who sets down rules for his children to follow, they are for your benefit.
“The people around you know about my Word that you follow as well. They know about it by the way you conduct yourself. The life you live gives evidence to who you are and who you follow and what you are all about. When you obey what I have told you, others around you will say of you, ‘They are such wise and understanding people.’ They will see how you love me and how you love one another.
“But when you are surrounded by people who do not believe what you do, who do not know me as the true and only God, who do not know my love, you will be tempted to put aside my laws and live as the rest of the world does. Be careful. Watch yourselves closely. Don’t forget the things you have seen with your own eyes. Don’t let my Word slip from your hearts. Remember, I love you. I have called you to be different than the sinful world around you. I have called you to be a light among darkness. I have called you to be my own.
“And these laws that I have given to you for your good, they are for your children too. Teach them my Word. They too will be tempted to give up on me and join in the ways of the world. It’s your job to teach them of my grace and mercy.”
Dear friends, these words are for us too. God has given us his Word. In that Word, he has revealed himself and his great love for us. He has made us his through the blood of our Savior, Jesus. And now he calls us to live a life of love through him and for him. As blood bought souls of Christ we gladly want to obey his Word. And we know that he gives us his Word for our good, he wants what’s best for us too. And when we live according to his Word people around us see that. Be careful that you don’t slip and put aside God’s Word. Repent for the times you have put yourself and the world before your God. And receive the forgiveness Jesus has won for you. And then live a life a love. Love for God. Love for your neighbor.
And don’t forget to teach these words to your children and your grandchildren. And everyone else God has placed into your life. You have been given the words of everlasting life. You have been given the word that is a lamp for our path through this life. Know that Word. Live it. Share it.
(The above text comes from the First Lesson from this coming Sunday, when we begin our new series, “Don’t Say You are a Christian, Be One.” We will see how we have been called be a Christian not just with words, not just sometimes, but with our whole life.)
