Community Devotions

Take It To Heart

SCRIPTURE

And when Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel he said to them, “Take to heart all these 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. 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. - Deuteronomy 32:45-47

OBSERVATION

God’s word is meant to be taken to heart. It is not meant simply to be read or heard but to be brought the centrality of a person’s being to be meditated and obeyed. The core and essence of a person—thoughts, affections, desires, will are to be centered on the life-giving word of God. But it does not end there. There is a purpose to taking God’s word to heart. It is to model, teach and command our children.

APPLICATION

I want to be touched and filled to the core with God’s word. Doing my devotions is not just a routine to be filled with bible trivia and facts—it is my very life. It is through Scripture by the Spirit that I am able to understand the things freely given to me by God in Christ (1 Cor. 2:12). It is not idle or empty word that I read but God-breathed and inspired word of life that reveals the majesty of Christ and glory of God. My personal transformation is not an end to itself. I have to demonstrate and teach them to Judah, Noah and Ezra. 

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

You are my life. Where would I be with your word? How can I stand without your mercy? Please forgive me for not reading your word heart-first. I am different today because I am taking your word to heart. Help me to be like Ezra who read, meditated, obeyed and taught Scripture. May you use me to bring a revival to your word in Hawaii.

First Thing Is First

SCRIPTURE

For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. - Ezra 7:10

OBSERVATION

Everything in life has a proper order. The correct sequence is crucial whether it’s a baby first learning how to crawl, then walk and finally to run. When a constructing a building one sets the foundation first, then the walls and roofing and then the interior details. First thing is first. Ezra understood this. He first set his heart to study the Scripture. Notice that it is with the heart, the wellspring of life that Ezra directed his affection and desire to do. What defines our lives is not so much what we think as it is what we love. In his love for God, Ezra ordered his heart to study God’s word. Secondly, he resolved to obey Scripture. He did not study to teach—he studied to obey. He applied God’s word to his own self first then he taught. The purpose of study is self application not knowledge in of itself. Thirdly he taught God’s statutes. There was an outlet for the application and knowledge i.e. there was a ministry of the word. A minister ministers the word of God that he first ministered to himself. As a result of his skill in the Scripture, “the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him” (7:6). In other words, the favor of God was upon him.

APPLICATION

Point of obedience:

•  Direct my affection to study God’s word: Have my heart renewed, my soul refreshed and my spirit strengthened by God-breathed Scripture.

• Study in order to apply it to myself first: Watch for the danger of studying only to preach without first being examined and changed by God. 

• Teach and preach from a place of application: Not only will it result in a stronger conviction and more depth in preaching but I am transformed into Christlikeness which is the end goal.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, 

Thank you for being a God of order. Please forgive me for seasons of studying to preach instead of studying in order to be changed. Please bring me back to my first love of knowing you through your word. Especially in this season of busyness and studying for my master’s I need your grace to study for the sake of applying your word to myself first. I need your anointing Holy Spirit to teach with conviction and power. I love you.