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"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them." (Deuteronomy 4:9 NIV)
My dogs and I walk ten times around our fenced half acre daily, to get our exercise. Lately I have noticed that I can see a faint outline of the path which we have tread over the past year. Our feet have begun to chart our route and as we continue our habit, I expect that the pathway will become much more apparent as the ground beneath our walking feet is slowly worn deeper and deeper away.
This reminds me of the Lord’s command to His people, in today’s scripture. He exhorts them to closely watch over themselves in regards to their spiritual walk. They are to be consistent and diligent in not letting themselves forget everything they have seen Him do. His faithfulness is never to slip from their hearts, not ever. The word slip, is defined as losing one’s balance unintentionally, for a short distance (Oxford Dictionary). If you have ever slipped, you know all too well just how quickly such a thing happens, and when you least expect it.
Likewise, slipping in regards to remembering all that God has taught and done for us, can also happen quickly and unintentionally. Life catches us up with its’ busyness, illness drags us down, good times embrace us in their pleasure, laziness dictates that we can let spiritual habits slide, at least for a while, and before we know it, we are not really thinking of the Lord very often at all. He is still there, but in the shadows rather than at the forefront of our daily walk. That’s just how easily slipping happens and when it occurs, if we are not quick to notice and regain our balance, the spiritual pathway which we are leaving for others to follow now, as well as after we are gone, can easily begin to fade into nothingness.
Thus, let us remember, as the Lord has said, to be careful and watch closely: to watch our hearts attitude, our minds thoughts and our spiritual habits of reading and knowing the word, fellowshipping with other Christians and raising our voice in praise and prayer. For as we watch closely, we shall not slip. We shall never forget all that He has done for us through His word and deeds, so that the pathway we leave behind us daily, as well as after He has called us home, stands bright and clear, well defined, for others to see and follow.
Prayer: Father God remind me to be careful and to closely watch over my spiritual walk with You, that others may see and follow the godly pathway that my life is treading. In Christ’s name. Amen.
Lynne Phipps
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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