Deuteronomy 32:45-47 – 45 And when Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. 47 For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”
How do you treat the word of God? Think well, Christian, as you examine your life. Is the Bible an add-on? Is the Scripture a thing you turn to on occasion when you need comfort? Is the word of God a thing that you look at on a Sunday and then whenever you might find a minute to fit it in?
Here in the final chapter of the book of Deuteronomy, God, through Moses, tells the people of Israel how they are to handle Scripture. They are to take to heart the words of God. They are to teach the commands of God to their children so that their kids will know how to obey God. And then Moses puts the true weight of the word in a very helpful way, saying, “For it is no empty word for you, but your very life.”
Hear that phrase, it is your very life.” Do you feel its import?
The Scripture is your life. the Lord who has revealed himself to you in Scripture is the Lord who gives you life. You cannot know him or please him apart from his word. You need Scripture like you need to breathe.
Christians, I urge us all to reevaluate just how we see the Bible. It is no small thing. It is no chore. It is no extra bit to our days. The word of God is our very life. to ignore it, belittle it, slack in our love of it is to stop breathing in our souls.
Pastor Travis Peterson 