Dueteronomy 4:9
“Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.”
Proverbs 4:23 gives a similar message: “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.” It’s as if we’ve been given a small plot of ground. It’s up to us how to garden it. Our responsibilities aren’t endless. We don’t have to be overwhelmed. It’s possible.
How do we keep watch over our hearts and souls? The first thought is to grow in our knowledge and understanding of God and His ways. 1 Peter 2:2 says, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,” The bible is nourishment to our spirits. As we are in it, we grow. If we avoid it, we stagnate.
Another way we keep watch over our hearts is to obey Christ’s lordship. As we go throughout our days, we feel prompted to do some things and to avoid others. Not every thing is from God. Most things aren’t. However, some are. Test them. Pray about them. This is how we keep the little weeds out of the garden. Jesus said in Luke 16:10 “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.” Conquering small things help the bigger things fall into place.
Today’s passage speaks how this behavior influences others (children, grandchildren, etc.). Faith and habits are often caught, not taught. We pick of the habits of those around us, either good or bad. May we be good influences on others. May we also associate with those that are good influences on us.
Lord, thank You for this charge. Help us to “keep our souls with all diligence.”