Today’s verses remind us to diligently watch ourselves. We have to be careful, be on guard, take care to not forget what what we’ve seen and heard from God. The past few days, we looked at how we should not add or subtract from God’s Word. God’s Word is to guide us, to teach us, to help us to live a godly life. God’s Word reveals to us Who God is and provides for us hope and direction. God’s Word is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12). Today, let us answer the question — how do we diligently watch ourselves?
For starters, we need to be able to remember. For me, that’s hard. I have a very bad memory. I had some brain injuries in the past that has really impacted my memory in a negative way. I will be shown photos of myself and not remember being at the place. I will be told stories that I do not remember. This happens all of the time, hence the reason I take so many photos today so I can have something to help me remember tomorrow. One of the ways that God’s people were advised to help them remember was to set up memorial stones (Joshua 4). The stone were to remind the people that they crossed the Jordan, and were to be used to share with the children and grandchildren. We can leave stones of God’s revelations all over our homes and in His Word by taking notes in our Bibles. You can leave stones by keeping a journal of your journey with God.
Another way to watch ourselves — to help us remember — is to keep reading God’s Word again and again. Repetition. You never read the Bible once through and say you have read it through so you can check that off the bucket list. You daily approach His Word. You study His Word. You recite His Word. You pray over His Word. You share His Word. You complete devotions looking at His Word. From continuing to take His Word in, you are able to then speak it out. Not only does it not “slip from your mind,” but it is also shared — you “teach them to your children and grandchildren.”
Today, may you see how you can set up memorials — breadcrumbs of daily bread. May you allow God’s Word to fill your day. May His words be your words. Diligently watch yourself. His Word does not return void (Isaiah 55:11). Amen!
“Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you don’t forget the things your eyes have seen and so that they don’t slip from your mind as long as you live. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren…Diligently watch yourselves–because you did not see any form on the day the LORD spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb so you don’t act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves in the shape of any figure: a male or female form” – Deuteronomy 4:9, 15-16 [CSB]
Tania Gutekunst 