A Weekly Devotional from the
South Green Street Church of Christ

I know I've read it before, but it just didn't register.  What about you?  Same story?  As God was outlining the duties, responsibilities, and obligations of being King of Israel, he lists the following:

"Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites." (Deuteronomy 17:18).

Had you noticed that before?  God expected the King to write, with his own hand, a copy of the law.  Typically, this was the job of the scribes, but God placed such importance on the King knowing the law, he demanded that he write out a copy of the law for himself!  Didn't God know that his kings were busy men?  The job of being a king was demanding and must of taken a lot of time.  Nevertheless, God expected the kings of Israel make the time to write out, in their own handwriting, a copy of the law.  It wasn't enough to just read the law, God wanted these spiritual leaders to write out a copy for themselves.  Interesting.

I wonder how many of us, who are trying to be spiritual leaders in the church and our homes would profit if we would buy a couple composition notebooks and write out, in our own hand, the books of the New Testament?  Would it be time consuming?  Yes, of course it would.  But wouldn't it be "re-inventing the wheel?"  I mean, why write out a copy when I have a leather bound one on my shelf?  Apparently, the value and benefit gained by spending careful time in the word outweighs the investment in time, else why did God command his leaders to write it out?

While there is no New Testament command to do so, this action is at least worthy of contemplation, and very probably, would benefit all of us greatly.  It's quite a challenge.  Are you up to it?