By Pastor Don Schatz

Read, Mark, Learn and Inwardly Digest

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud Link

“And when [the King] sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them,…”

Deuteronomy 17:18-19  English Standard Version

I used to get push-back from Confirmation kids about having to memorize Bible verses.  Sometimes from their parents!

They had it easy compared to the Kings of Israel!  Moses instructed that when a King first began to rule, he “shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law…!”  Those Confirmation kids had it easy.

Writing out Bible Verses is a great device to help remember them, memorize them.  One Church Father suggested that one should “read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the Word, the Scriptures.”  Get the Scriptures inside our souls, so that they become part of us.  Then, copying the Scripture is far more about living them out because they are who we are!  God’s love is our love.  God’s mercy is our mercy.  God’s forgiving nature is our forgiving nature.  God’s grace is our grace.  God’s patience is our patience.  You get the idea.

‘Imitation is the highest form of flattery’ goes the old saying.  Well, we aren’t about flattering God.  He doesn’t need it, nor does he ask for it.  But getting into the Word has a way of transforming us as we dwell in it, devour it, let it rest in our heart, direct our mind and walk in the way and will of Christ our Lord.

Ancient Israel needed Kings like that.  The church needs members like that.  The world needs Christians like that.

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado