Our lives exist in words, don’t they? What we DO is important, but what we SAY is more important. When a person like your grandfather begins to speak less, it is as if we have lost the most important part of him. Words guide everything we do: rules, laws, agreements, promises, affirmation, criticism, goals, mission statements, slogans, and more. Everything requires words—most of us have to talk all day, words being a critical grease to lubricate the engine of every human activity. But words also define our lives, purposes, hopes, and dreams. And when we die our lives are summarized with words. Not only that, but in heaven, God has books filled with words: there are books recording THE DEEDS OF MEN (Rev. 20:12). And more critical is the BOOK OF LIFE (id.) which names every person who belongs to God. David even says, “In thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me” (Ps.139:16). Words are ESSENTIAL.
In Deuteronomy 17:18-20, God orders that each king of Israel (1) write, BY HAND, his own copy of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy; and then (2) study it EVERY DAY OF HIS LIFE. By copying the scriptures the king will “make it his own.”
God tells Joshua the same:
“This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth, but you are to RECITE IT DAY AND NIGHT, being careful to do all that is written in it—for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success” Joshua 1:8
Words surround us—as water surrounds a fish. We swim in a sea of words nearly every moment. But some words are better than others, and GOD’S WORDS ARE CRITICAL. We should be writing them, reading them, reciting them, memorizing them. We need God’s word on our minds every morning and every night. If you do that, what does God promise in Joshua 1:8 (above)?
God, help us give your word the attention it deserves.
ΑΩ
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