DAILY READING
REFLECTION
Living Alert
by Pam Mann
“Be careful! Watch out!”
When you hear those words, you suck in your breath. You look quickly around for something dangerous. Your adrenaline surges. Your heart thumps faster. What’s the emergency in verse 9 that inspires Moses to sound an alarm? Moses is calling you to keep fresh the watershed faith events of your life. To his people, he says: Remember how God gave the Law at Horeb with fire, black clouds, and a mighty voice. What? Who could forget an experience like that?
Amazingly, though, people do forget or, at least, they let memories fade of events that were once life-changing. God’s law has the potential to be so impactful for the Israelites that adherence to it will make them unlike any other nation. Obeying God’s law will make them “a wise and understanding people.” Also, Moses mentions that no other nation has a living God who is near when they pray.
As his death approaches, Moses wants future generations settling in a new land to remember the watershed event at Mount Sinai. Teaching God’s law to the next generation is part of keeping that covenant alive with our living God.
How does this careful watchfulness work for us today? At each day’s end, as we are tucking ourselves into bed, we will reflect on the day and know the many ways in which we have failed to keep God’s Law. Maybe that’s why Moses reminds us in verse 7 that “the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him.” We need a Savior to cover our sin and make us right with God.
In fact, we are easily distracted from being careful about holding forth God’s Word. We don’t consistently watch out that we teach the next generation.
How do slackers, such as we are, practice this community vigilance that Moses is extoling? In our own strength, we don’t. It just won’t happen.
Good thing we’re not on our own.
Good thing that “the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him.”
Good thing that the ever-present Spirit of God is our game changer.
The Lord our God Himself is near us throughout our day to alert us to each teachable moment. Expect no squawking alarms, no flashing lights, probably not even a rise in your blood pressure. Instead, God uses a scripture brought to your mind, a nudge to speak the truth in love, or an urge to offer intercessory prayer.
PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for your nearness when we pray. Let us fully meditate on your Word so we are ready for any teachable-moment alert. Make our families, our small groups, and our ministry teams hubs of reverence in your presence. Be our game changer.
Amen!
"The Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him." Is it any wonder the peace that often covers us when we lift our hearts to God. He is the only Father that can make it all better. Thank you for this word, Pam.
Good work, Pam.