SPIRITUAL GROWTH ENHANCERS
If you obey all the decrees and commands I am giving you today, all will be well with you and your children. I am giving you these instructions so you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you for all time.” Deuteronomy 4:40 NLT
THE WALKING BIBLE
The book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of Moses given to the Israelites just before they entered the Promised land. In this book, he made an earnest appeal to the people to remember all that God has done for them and to keep His commandments.
Just like the people of Israel, the Lord God has done so much for us that we can not even tell it all. All we are to do to recompense God's love and His goodness towards us is to love Him back and walk the Bible.
One special man I love and admire so much on record is Lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata. He was the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Company from 1988 until 2000.
Tsatsu Tsikata is highly respected in the legal fraternity and had it not been his active role in politics, he would be a Supreme Court Judge.
Many refer to him as "the walking law" as a result of his enormous experience and knowledge in law. He does not only have enormous knowledge in law. He is a legal practitioner. He practices his law with passion.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
We become "the walking Bible" as we continue to read, study, meditate and put it into practice.
As children of God, we are to read the Bible to gain enormous experience and knowledge in the teachings and ways of God. We are to be the walking Bible. Our friends, family and society out there should be able to identify us as the walking Bible.
To walk the Bible is to read the Bible and obey its teachings and put it into action. Walking the Bible is putting what we read in the Bible to practice.
The apostle James summarised the whole concept of Moses in the above passage this way:
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. James 1:22
It is believed that the book of James is the earliest writing contained in the New Testament, and was written to Jewish Christians.
The purpose, therefore, is to exhort early believers by both warning against various sins and temptations, as well as instructing believers on various points of morality.
James is dealing with the ethics of Christianity propelling him to ask them by word of exhortation to become obedient to God's word by walking the Word. That is to say, practice what they read. It makes no sense after going for choir rehearsals and refusing to robe afterwards.
Unlike simply gaining knowledge by reading history books or enjoying literature for pleasure, reading God’s Word demands action.
James’ audience of Jewish Christians were facing persecution from non-believing Jews, therefore he felt it very important to exhort them in how their faith might be lived out in practical ways for others to see.
We are regarded as fools when we keep reading the Bible and preaching from the Bible to others to obey, live long and be prosperous but we do not walk the Bible we preach to them. It is like diligently searching for a job and finding that job and going to call another friend for that job.
Both of you were given an interview date and you didn't show up. So the friend you went to called showed up for that interview and was picked ahead of you while you continue a jobless life.
The Benefits Of Walking The Bible
The word of God is the treasure-throve of the Christian and the only way we can enjoy this treasure-throve is when we read and put it into action.
Moses promised the people that when they wholeheartedly accept the Lord's statutes and commands they will see good days and food things will happen to them. Good things happen to those who read and walk the Bible.
According to Psalm 34:10b, Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
That means those who seek to read and walk the Bible will not lack anything good as Moses promised them. The Word in action shall make good things happen to them in Jesus mighty name.
The first benefit from the promise Moses made by putting the Word of God to practice is prosperity.
They will be live a fulfilled Christian life and be successful.
This same promise applies to us in our contemporary reflections. We may not have the laws of the ten commandments but we have the complete Bible to read and apply the lessons really into our lives obeying and practising all doctrines of faith in the Holy Word of God. The Bible is the charge to keep.
The second promise of benefit to enjoy is longevity and good health.
With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. Psalm 91:6
Obedience in practice to God's Word breeds long life and good health for the believer.
Proverbs 3:7-8 – Be not wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and turn away from evil; this will mean health for your flesh and vigour for your bones.
Obeying the above instruction from the Bible and living it will give you access to divine security, health and energy. Not only does physical food supply health and energy to our physical body but the Word of God, when followed religiously and in faith, does.
That is why in Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” NIV
May the Lord grants you long life, good health and a sound mind as you keep reading and walking the Bible. May peace and joy unspeakable flood your heart, and harmony to your house, and peace be to all that you have.
I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul prospers. Whatever does not glorify God in your body drops off you today!
The Lord satisfies you with long life and shows you His salvation. Your going out will be joyous and you will return peacefully. Go in peace, return in the abundance of testimonies!
©OASIS WORDBANK/OASIS SOCIAL MEDIA MINISTRY COMMAND
