Listen and Live

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 4

Scripture Focus: And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live. (Deuteronomy 4.1a)

Devotional Thought: "You're not listening to me." "Yes I am, Daddy. I heard everything you just said." If you're a parent, that is a familiar conversation to you.

Parents and children interpret "Listen to me" differently. Children think in terms of "hearing." When parents say listen, however, they mean "do what I say."

In Deuteronomy 4, the Lord clears up any confusion. He tells Israel to listen and do. As you read the chapter, there are some pretty exciting verses that merit reflection:

v. 2: You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it.

v. 7: For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?

v. 9: Keep your soul diligently.

v. 9: Make them [God's words] known to your children and your children's children.

v. 24: For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

v. 29: You will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.

v. 35: To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him.

Reflect on these words. "Listen... and do them, that you may live."

Prayer: Lord, at times I neglect the Old Testament. Forgive me, I pray. And help me, Lord, to glean great and eternal truth from all of your Word that I may live. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 11.1-7

1 In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain, 2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; 3 if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. 5 The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. 6 Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.