The first act the king was to perform upon taking the throne was not to go to an inaugural ball, throw a party for his donors, or watch a parade in his honor. God declared the first thing a king was to do was to make a copy of the Law. Why? Because in writing down every line and every word, the Law would be embedded in the king’s mind.

I have found that if I have pencil and paper in hand when I have devotions or go to a Bible study, I never come away empty-handed. And even if I never refer to those notes again, taking notes forces me to be engaged in the process of listening.

Not only are we to write the Word down, but we’re to pack it around. I have several pocket Bibles I carry not because I’m trying to be a holy Joe or some kind of Pharisee, but because I’ve found I can redeem a bunch of time - whether waiting for a stoplight, waiting for an appointment, or standing in line at the grocery store. You will be amazed at how much Scripture you can absorb in a single year simply by keeping the Word close at hand.

In addition to writing it down and packing it around, the king was not only to read the Word consistently, but to take it seriously. When I read the Bible, I fear the Lord. Why? Not because I’m condemned, but because I’m convicted. I realize the Word is right and I’m not, that it is good and I’m not, that it is true and I’m not. In other words, when I read the Word, I realize that I need Jesus every single day.

When do I find fault with others? When do I come down on others? When is my heart lifted up above others? When I’m not in the Word. When I’m in the Word, however, I realize how far I have yet to go. In reading the Word, the king would be reminded of his own need for mercy and forgiveness and would thereby be merciful and forgiving toward those he ruled.

If, like Israel’s kings were instructed to do, I read the Word consistently and take it seriously, not only will I walk in the ways of the Lord, but also my children will follow. What a simple premise. What a glorious promise.