Hang on to His Word

 By: Joanne Viola

As we enter these last few days before Easter, we need to slow down, quiet ourselves and push aside the outside voices to see what God has for us in this moment.

Jesus had entered Jerusalem. The people had lined the streets and “praised God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen” (Luke 19:37, NASB). They shouted their praises.

We are told Jesus could be found teaching daily in the temple. Try as they may, the chief priests and scribes could not quite find anything by which they could destroy Him.

But there was one thing, one small detail which Luke shares that irritated the priests and scribes:

”And He was teaching daily in the temple; 
but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men 
among the people were trying to destroy Him, 
and they could not find anything that they might do, 
for all the people were hanging on to every word He said.” 
(Luke 19:47-48, NASB)

No matter which Bible version I looked at, they all said the same thing – the people hung on to every word Jesus spoke.

They were listening intently. It implies a level of admiration and respect, knowing what is being spoken is truth and much needed.

Moses, in calling the people to a wholehearted commitment to God said:

“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!“ 
(Deuteronomy 6:4, NASB)

To listen to His Word without putting it into effect in our lives, is not to listen at all. Listening incorporates obedience.

Moses continued:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart 
and with all your soul and with all your might.” 
(verse 5, NASB)

Love will take all of our being. It will be no easy task, as some days will require more effort and expression of praise than other days. But God wants every part of us to love Him.

And Moses goes on:

“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.” 
(verse 6, NASB)

Moses was instructing the people to give wholehearted commitment to the commands of God.

These words are so important Jesus repeated them and they have been recorded for us in three of the Gospels. God is quite serious in requiring us to listen to Him, to obey Him, to love Him, and to commit our lives to Him.

One God.
Who has one purpose – salvation,
May we be like the people that day and hang on His every word.

 

Reflection: 
What do you need to do to carve out time with God? How do you silence yourself to read and listen for God?

 

 

Photo by Anastasiya Badun on Unsplash