“And now, Israel, listen carefully to these decrees and regulations that I am about to teach you. Obey them so that you may live, so you may enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you.
Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you. Just obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you.” Deuteronomy 4:1-2 NLT
There are so many voices that are competing for our attention. Because they all want our full attention, they will do whatever they can to distract you and me from other voices.
Phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, and all the push notifications are voices that come our way daily. All of these “voices” can easily distract us from what God is wanting to say to us if we are not tuned into his frequency.
There is an incredible feature on Air Pods that allows you to turn on a noise-canceling option that drastically turns down outside noise and allows you to clearly hear the one voice or song that is playing. It is amazing technology!
I understand we cannot completely eliminate every distraction….but we can drastically turn down the noise that is keeping us from hearing from the Word of God.
It is the devil’s ploy for you and me to hear so many outside voices, that we tune out God’s voice. The more we tune into the enemy’s voice, the more we TUNE OUT God’s voice.
That is why we talk about giving the first and the best part of our day to God and His Word. When you hear His voice FIRST, then you are able to clarify and amplify what is right.
“With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.” Psalms 119:10-12
You may never hear the audible voice of God, but every day, you have the opportunity to hear His voice by reading His Word.
In our text today, Moses was reminding Israel of the importance of listening carefully to the decrees and regulations from God. If they listened and obeyed, they would have life and obtain the promise.
Moses was emphatic that they should not add or subtract from what God is commanding. Why was he so absolute about this? Because he knew any other way means they would be defeated and they would not receive the promise.
There is a slang expression that originated in the restaurant industry. When the chef calls out a command, the responsible staff member replies, “Heard.” This simple response is to indicate that the order has been understood and will be executed.
The one taking the order does not question the chef. The one taking the order does not offer a better meal selection. The one taking the order does not give push back and offer a better way. The one taking the order simply says, “Heard.”
What if we started responding to God with a simple “Heard” for anything He is asking from us?
“I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.
But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” Luke 6:47-49 NLT
Just because you and I listen and obey His word does not mean we are exempt form the storms. As a matter of fact, it is not even promised that we will have easier storms.
The fact of the matter is that we will have similar storms to those that choose not to listen and to obey the Word of God.
Israel still had to fight battles. The disciples still faced trials, pain, and sufferings.
The difference is the peace in the midst of the storm and knowing that we will stand firm through it.
My prayer is when you read His Word from now on, no matter how hard it is to receive it in your flesh, allow your spirit to scream “HEARD.” When you hear His Word being preached from the pulpit on Sundays and Tuesdays, don’t push back. Don’t let your flesh win. Let your response to God be “HEARD”!
