February 4

Good morning, Blessed Hillcrest Family!

During the prayer meeting Tuesday night, my 7 yr old son picked up a child's Bible that had been left at the church and began quietly reading Exodus 20 - the Ten Commandments. He loves to read the Ten Commandments over and over. One day while waiting for my car to be washed, Samuel pulled out his memorization folder from school and began reading Exodus 20 outloud. As he read verses 5 & 6, a lady nearby got up and moved away from us.

To some the Word of God and the Law of God are offensive. However, God instructed us through King David Proverbs 7:1-5 of our reading today to "treasure God's commands within you" and to "keep My commands and live." He says the law should be the "apple of your eye." Is the Word of God the apple of your eye? Do you treasure God's Word above all else? I read a lot to my children. I can read a good book to them for an hour straight with no trouble. And yet when it's time to pick up the Bible to read - how often do I quickly read through a passage, check it off my list, and close the Book. Of course we usually discuss what I read, but my point is that we don't hang on every Word saying, "Read more - Read more" like we do our story books.

Elsewhere, David admonishes us to hide God's Word in our hearts that we might not sin against Him. Isaiah tells us that God knows what's best for us. He loves us. In Colossians, God calls us His holy and dearly loved children. You are His holy and dearly loved child! Because He loves you and I, He gave us His Word - His Commands - His Living Water - to drink and be nourished & to grow strong in Him. We must make God's Word the apple of our eye and teach our children to treasure the Bible richly as well.

Have a blessed and beautiful day! Enjoy reading the Word aloud w/your family today. See you at church tomorrow!

Blessings,

Rolanda Green

Hillcrest Children's Minister