"My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh."
Proverbs 4:20-22
The interaction here with the words is interesting. We're not just hearing, but we're actively listening. We're not just reading, but collecting words in our eyes. We're not just emotionally impacted by the word, but we're retaining the words and the feelings in our hearts.
I think not letting the words depart from our eyes could be including them in the way that we view the world... seeing things the way God would, or letting scripture influence our perception. For instance, instead of seeing a homeless person, we see a brother and know that "inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:40). We remember the parable of the good Samaritan, and we realize that our interaction is more about deciding who we are than judging someone else. Similar with word in our hearts I think. When we are tempted to go the wrong way, we remember how it feels to be separated from God, and how much we need him. We remember Psalms 119:105, and know that God's word can direct us and light our way, and we decide to avoid the darkness.
In John 6:68 it says "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life." Today, let's remember that God's words are life, and health, eternal and otherwise. They can help our sight and all of our senses. They can help us make decisions and know where to go. They can offer hope and peace and joy. Let's listen, and read, and love. Let's see things and feel things differently because of God's words. Let's be different, and better, people because of them... and let's continue all of that by reading them today, and letting them change us.
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh."
Proverbs 4:20-22
The interaction here with the words is interesting. We're not just hearing, but we're actively listening. We're not just reading, but collecting words in our eyes. We're not just emotionally impacted by the word, but we're retaining the words and the feelings in our hearts.
I think not letting the words depart from our eyes could be including them in the way that we view the world... seeing things the way God would, or letting scripture influence our perception. For instance, instead of seeing a homeless person, we see a brother and know that "inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:40). We remember the parable of the good Samaritan, and we realize that our interaction is more about deciding who we are than judging someone else. Similar with word in our hearts I think. When we are tempted to go the wrong way, we remember how it feels to be separated from God, and how much we need him. We remember Psalms 119:105, and know that God's word can direct us and light our way, and we decide to avoid the darkness.
In John 6:68 it says "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life." Today, let's remember that God's words are life, and health, eternal and otherwise. They can help our sight and all of our senses. They can help us make decisions and know where to go. They can offer hope and peace and joy. Let's listen, and read, and love. Let's see things and feel things differently because of God's words. Let's be different, and better, people because of them... and let's continue all of that by reading them today, and letting them change us.
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