10月19日

標　　題：這是你的生命

經　　節：因為這不是虛空、與你們無關的事，乃是你們的生命；在你們過約但河要得為業的地上必因這事日子得以長久。（申命記卅二章47節）

有許多基督徒除了偶爾翻翻神的話語，找找當日可用的簡練思想以外，生活中根本不讀聖經，這是一件令人困惑難解的事。神的話語不僅是提供良好意見的來源、預防性的警告、或是鼓舞人心的思想，神的話本身就是生命！

神聚集祂的以色列兒女們在應許地的邊界，回顧他們曾經與祂一同經過的旅程。因為他們父母那一代不相信神的話，他們花了四十年的時間，漂流在荒漠裡。因為不相信神的話，他們的父母在死前不得看見應許之地。即使那位敬虔的摩西，也很快就要離開他們，因為摩西曾經作出不敬畏神話語的事。他們其中很多人認識那些因不順服神的話，而招致死亡的人。經過這麼多年，神的話語成為以色列人生命中最重要的事。

神命令祂的百姓，要把神的話記在心上，也要殷勤以神的話語教導自己的兒女，無論坐在家中或行路躺臥，都要談論神的話語（申命記六：4∼9）。神的話在祂百姓的日常生活中，必須佔有獨特的一席之地。

我們對神話語的敬虔態度，不只由言語，也由行為表達出來。花費許多時間研讀人的話語，而非神的話語，即揭露出我們心靈的狀態。公然漠視神的話語，就是拒絕生命的本身。順服神的話語，是經歷神要賜予豐盛生命的穩當之路。

It Is Your Life!

For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess." (Deuteronomy 32:47)

It’s puzzling that so many Christians try to live the Christian life without reading their Bible, except for sporadic perusals of God’s Word, seeking a pithy thought for the day. The Word of God is not merely a source of helpful suggestions, preventative warnings, or inspirational thoughts: It is life itself!

God gathered the children of Israel at the edge of the Promised Land to review their pilgrimage with Him. They had spent forty years in a desert because their parents had not trusted God’s word. Their parents died without seeing the Promised Land because they had not believed God’s word. Even the revered Moses was soon to leave them because he had not shown proper reverence for God’s word. Many of them knew those who had been put to death as a consequence of their disobedience to God’s word. Over the years God’s word had become the most important thing in the life of the Israelites.

God commanded His people to bind His words on their hearts, to teach them diligently to their children, and to regularly discuss them in their homes (Deut. 6:4–9). So essential was His word that it was to hold a prominent place in the daily lives of His people.

Our reverence for God’s Word is revealed not only by what we say but also by what we do. Spending more time reading and studying the words of people rather than the Word of God, reveals our hearts’ condition. To blatantly disregard God’s Word is to reject life itself. To obey God’s Word is the surest way to experience all that God has in store for us.