If you are a Star Trek fan, then you probably recognize today’s title as being the Vulcan salute spoken first by Mr. Spock in 1967 on the Star Trek second season opening episode, “Amok Time.” No, I’m not a Trekkie, but I do know how to use an internet search engine.
Today’s passage assures us that if we do not forget the teaching of God’s Word, we will live long and prosper. The assurance is given that we can enjoy a long and prosperous life if we make God’s Word a part of our inner lives. This means we don’t let it go in one ear and out the other. We are to let it affect our hearts. We are to allow it to have its life changing effect on our lives.
The Hebrew word for “peace” is also translated, “prosper.” Peace and prosperity are very similar notions in the Old Testament. Prosperity does not necessarily mean financial success. You can be very poor financially and still enjoy God’s peace and prosperity in life.
The concept being taught in today’s passage is rather broad. It denotes wholeness, health, and harmony. It is all about life in the proverbial “zone”. Life is long and life is good when it is lived out of intimacy with and obedience to God. When that is being done, I believe life is lived to the full and in harmony with God and others.
If life is good, we want it to last a long time, don’t we? The more wholeness we experience in life, the longer we want it to last. Doctors have been telling us for years that the healthier we are, the longer we live. When life is harmonious, our heart’s desire is for life to continue. This is the promise of Scripture.
What are you willing to do today to make sure God’s Word works its way into your inner life? What about tomorrow and the day after that? A person who refuses to forget God’s teaching while allowing His Word to sink deep into his heart, will live long and prosper.
And that, my friend, is a promise that was made way before Mr. Spock’s Vulcan salute hit the 1967 airwaves.
OK John, started reading through your blog (hey, I've been busy!) and you made me smile with your 10/14/09 Daily Passage! and thought you needed a comment, everyone needs encourgement! later . . .
ReplyDeletetsr
Joshua 1:9 ~ Proverbs 3;5,6