These words which I command you
today by Alexander Smiley These words which I command you today
shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently
to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your
house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you
rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they
shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them
on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy
chapter 6 verse 6 through 9. It is well when the word of God
governs my personal life. It should control my body with
its members and passions. It should solve the puzzling
questions of my intellect. It should allay the fears of
my conscience. It should fill my imagination
with pure and inspiring pictures. It should make my will the happy
bondservant of Christ. It should satisfy the cravings
of my heart for God's perfect and eternal love. It is well
when the word of God governs my home life, when I teach it
to the children, when I talk of it sitting in the house and
walking along the way, lying down and rising up. I am giving
them the sublimest theme for meditation, the best rule of
conduct, the strongest safeguard against evil, the passport to
the family of the Lord and the city of the eternal King. I am
rendering them the most noble service conceivable. It is well
when the Word of God governs my social life. Let it be written
on the posts of my house and on my gates. Then my neighbors
will know where I stand and whom I serve. They will not come to
me to talk gossip and scandal, and to whisper away the good
name of others with idle tongues. They will not wish me to be a
partner with them in any evil work. They will be drawn rather
towards the book and towards the Lord. In my personal history,
in the relationships of my home and my social fellowship, May
God rule through his word with an undisputed scepter and a gracious
tyranny. Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12 For
the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged
sword. It penetrates even to dividing
soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes
of the heart. Job chapter 23 verse 12 I have
treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. Jeremiah
chapter 15 verse 16 When your words came, I ate them. They
were my joy and my heart's delight.