A Living Stone
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Deuteronomy 27 and Psalm 128 (NIV)
(Rosalia Mahendran, PTM- Safe@Wesley, Crisis Relief Wesley and Wesley Filipino Fellowship)
READ:
Whilst I read both Deuteronomy 27 and Psalm 128, the verses that caught my attention were:
Deuteronomy 27:1-8 and Psalm 128:1-2
OBSERVE:
The Israelites are about to cross the river Jordan to the land promised to them by God. It is a land flowing of milk and honey.
In verse 1 Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the Israelites to “Keep all these commands I have given you today.” (The commands were given in Deuteronomy 26 and earlier chapters). If they learn and follow them, they will be blessed.
This command is so important that the first thing the Israelites have to do after crossing the river Jordan is to set up some large stones (v2) and write the whole body of the law (v3) on them. Thereafter, they are to build an altar made of natural and uncut stones and use it to offer burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord (v5-6). They are also to celebrate by feasting there before the Lord their God (v6-7).
In a land of abundance and prosperity, obedience to the commands of God is of foremost importance. They need to write the commands in stones to remind them lest they forget. They need to continue to learn and follow God’s command.
APPLY:
- I will make every effort to learn and obey the Words of God even as I encourage others to do the same.
- Thankful that the Word of God is available to me in written, audio and digital form in languages I can understand. I recently received a copy of the “Ang Bible” Pinoy Version. It is translated into modern Tagalog language that is easy to understand. I am using it in the Wesley Filipino Fellowship Bible Study group. It really enriches our understanding and study of the Word together.
- There are blessings to my family, community, nation and myself, if I obey the commands of God. Psalm 128:1-2 (NIV) affirms “Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labour ; blessings and prosperity will be yours.” Conversely curses will come if I fail to follow and heed the Word of God.
DO:
- Remind myself the importance of God’s word in my life and keep it. I should continue to learn and make an effort to study and meditate on it in my quiet time, group devotion, Bible Study groups, small groups, worship services and other ways and put the lessons in practice.
- I do not need to engrave the word of God in stones. I have Jesus, the Living Stone. I have the Bible in languages I can understand. What I need to do is to continue to write the laws of God in my heart, live according to them and be a living stone that declares the Word of God and encourages others to obey God.
- Thankful for the Word (Jesus) that came to us. Thankful to Jesus Christ, the Living Stone.
PRAY:
Lord Jesus, the Living Stone, thank you for your command that brings life and eternity to us. May your words of life continue to be written in my heart. May I be a living stone that declares and lives out your Word. In Christ name. Amen.
