From my journal on May 9, 2013:
Deuteronomy 17:17-20 ESV:
“And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.”
Jesus, lots here. The key is to fear you so that I don’t commit adultery, don’t become materialistic and do stay humble. One of the ways of doing this is by reading your word all the days of my life. Thank you that you have helped me be faithful to this for 53 years.
Continue to make my time with you real, relevant, life giving and genuine. As you grant a certain degree of “success,” help my heart not to be lifted up above my brothers/sisters in your family. Mark 10:42,43 and Mark 12:38,39.
Application:
One of the things that can enable and empower me/you to:
1. Fear the Lord,
2. Keep away from sexual immorality,
3. Keep away from materialism,
4. Keep humble,
…is to spend DAILY time with God and His word. Read his word, pray over his word, study his word, meditate on his word, memorize his word and obey his word by the power of the Holy Spirit as you seek to honor him.
It’s not hocus pocus, but rather a matter of sitting quietly and intentionally before the Lord of heaven and earth, waiting to hear from him…allowing him to encourage you, remind you of the gospel, remind you of his character, remind you of his gracious promises, remind you of his steadfast and everlasting love.
The primary responsibility of every leader is to hear from God. God speaks to us through his word, the Bible.
In The Navigators we used to say: either sin will keep you from God’s word or God’s word will keep you from sin. I have never known a godly, consistent, victorious, fruit-bearing follower of Jesus who skimped on his time with God. Let other things go, but don’t let time with God and his Word go.
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:6,7 (ESV)
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