Responses to God's Word

In our readings today we saw many responses to God's Word. Some were good, some not so good.
In Nehemiah we saw neglect of God's Word. Nehemiah had been gone for awhile, and upon his return he found that the people had drifted from the Word of God. The temple was being defiled, the Levites were being neglected, the Sabbath ignored, and marriage law was being violated. Upon seeing this Nehemiah set out to right these wrongs knowing that such neglect had led to their exile in the first place.
In Matthew we see those who were teaching the Law but not living it themselves. The Pharisees were well schooled in the Law of the Lord. They went around telling others what to do. They even offered their application of the Law, but when it came for them living it out themselves, Jesus said they wouldn't as much as lift a finger in doing so. Theirs was an external religion. It was for show. It was to impress men and gain their approval. But that is not what God desires. He wants a religion of the heart, where the Word penetrates deeply into the heart and changes the person's very way of life.
That kind of response was found with Abraham in Genesis 24. God had made some very specific promises to Abraham which he took to heart. Now when it was time for him to find a wife for his son he was careful to order his search according to the Word. He sent his servant on a mission to find a wife from his father's house. He also did not send his son away because God had directed him to the land in which he sojourned. Abraham was careful to order his life by the Word of God.
And what was the result? God prospered the search of Abraham's servant. He ordered circumstances to fulfill the promises He had made to Abraham and his descendants.
Every day we are confronted with the Word of God (especially as we are faithful to read and study it daily). The question is what will we do with it? Will we neglect it, slowly drifting from God's intentions for our life? Will we teach it to others (like our own children) but not really let it affect our hearts and order our lives? Or will we, by Christ's strength which abides in us, receive the Word and let it settle in our heart, and then day by day let it order the way we live? To chose anything but the last option is to chose less of the life that God intends for us. Take God at His Word. Abraham did! You will not regret it!
Father, help us all to receive the Word implanted which is able to save our souls! James 1:21 And help us order our lives by its wonderful truths.