When God Speaks
We live in a noisy world.
There’s no shortage of opinions, hot takes, or advice. Scroll through your feed, flip on a podcast, listen to the news—everyone’s telling you how to think or vote or care for yourself, what to buy, and how to live. But underneath all the noise, our souls are still hungry for something more.
That’s why God’s Word matters more than ever.
God isn’t distant. He’s not silent. He’s spoken—and He still speaks—through the words of Scripture. And when we read our Bibles or hear God’s Word, when we LISTEN—not just with our ears but with our hearts—we’re receiving more than information. We’re receiving love.
1. Shema—Listen
Deuteronomy 4:1 “Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform, so that you may live…”
The first step is simple: Listen.
In Deuteronomy 4, Moses is making a loving appeal. “Listen,” he says—not just to hear, but to shema (the Hebrew word that means to hear with the intent to trust and obey).
Not in a rush. Not politely nodding our heads. But like when someone you love pours their heart out and you feel the weight of their words. That’s how God wants us to listen.
2. Treat It Like What It Is: God’s Word
Deuteronomy 4:2 “You shall not add to the word… nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God.”
The Bible is complete and perfect as is. Whether it’s paperback, leather-bound, or a free app, it is God’s supernatural and holy Word. We mustn’t add whatever we might feel is missing or ignore any parts that make us uncomfortable.
The Bible is complete and perfect as is. Whether it’s a paperback, leather-bound, or a free app, it’s God’s supernatural and holy Word. We mustn’t add whatever we feel is missing or ignore any parts that make us uncomfortable.
Read it humbly, expectantly, and honestly. Even the hard truths are invitations into freedom. God’s Word calls us back to Himself—into a life that’s whole, holy, and deeply human.
It’s a warning too: if we reshape God’s truth to fit our culture, comfort, or opinions, we’re no longer keeping His commands but our own. His Word is holy, and it’s given in love for our good.
3. Don’t Just Hear It—Do It
Deuteronomy 4:6 “Keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples.”
God’s Word is meant to lead us into life. Moses says these truths are given “you to perform, so that you may live” (v.1). God gave Israel His Word—the Law—to trust and obey, so they may walk in fellowship with God and fully enjoy His blessings.
While Moses told Israel to PERFORM THE LAW to live, the gospel says:
1 John 4:9 … “God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might LIVE THROUGH HIM.”
The point of Scripture isn’t just to learn more—it’s to love the LORD our God and, by His grace, to live differently through our relationship with Him. When we put God’s Word into practice, we show the world what real wisdom looks like.
4. Share It—Pass It On
Deuteronomy 4:9 “Make them known to your sons and your grandsons… 10 Teach your children.”
The world constantly seeks to devour our kids today. The truth about Jesus is life-giving to them, and it will last with them all of their days.
Share the truths you know and trust with your friends and co-workers too, not with awkward speeches, but through honest conversations and small, intentional choices. Moses urges the people to remember God’s goodness and pass it on—to tell the next generation what they’ve seen and heard.
Share the truths you know and trust with your friends and co-workers too, not with awkward speeches, but through honest conversations and small, intentional choices.
Why This Matters Today
Deuteronomy 4:7 “What great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God whenever we call on Him?”
I love how we have a God who is so close to us relationally and in His very presence. In a nation adrift in loneliness, mental health crises, crying out for help, we have a God who says, “Call on Me. I’m right here.”
In a nation adrift in loneliness, mental health crises, crying out for help, we have a God who says, “Call on Me. I’m right here.”
When you’re stressed about your kids, He’s near. When you’re worried about finances, He’s near. When you feel like a failure, He’s not hiding—call on Him. Don’t live any longer as if He’s miles away.
This Week, Try This:
Let yourself be spoken to by God. Read one chapter of Scripture each day (maybe start with Deuteronomy 1-4!). Trust His presence. Trust this is His Word. Perhaps consider what this reveals about God’s heart.
Pray: “God, help me not just hear You, but follow You.” Ask Him to help you listen to God’s Word, “do” what it says, and “pass it on.”
Share your faith. Discuss God’s love and care with your children. Share one thing from God’s Word with someone else—maybe with your life group—but something encouraging or honest, or helpful.
God uses this to increase our faith. And you never know how God might use it to help someone else.