Opening Verse
“Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.” – Proverbs 13:13
Introduction
God’s Word carries eternal weight. Every verse, every command, every promise holds the power of heaven behind it. Those who treat Scripture lightly do so at their own peril, while those who approach it with reverence find life itself.
Devotional Story
Marcus had always considered himself a good person. He attended church occasionally, owned a Bible that collected dust on his nightstand, and figured his general kindness toward others would be enough. When his coworker Elena invited him to a Bible study, he shrugged and agreed, thinking it might be interesting.
As the weeks passed, Marcus found himself uncomfortable with the discussions. The group talked about sin seriously, about the need for repentance, about Jesus being the only way to salvation. These concepts felt outdated to Marcus. He began making excuses to skip meetings, dismissing their concerns as religious extremism.
“I don’t need all that heavy stuff,” Marcus told Elena one day. “I’m doing fine without constantly worrying about what some ancient book says.”
Elena’s eyes filled with concern. “Marcus, that ancient book is God speaking to you. What if you’re wrong about being fine?”
Marcus laughed it off, but Elena’s words haunted him. Months later, when a heart attack struck him at age forty-two, lying alone in the hospital room, Marcus finally understood what Elena meant. He wasn’t fine. He never had been. And now, facing eternity, he realized he had spent years despising the very words that could have saved him.
What This Means
This verse presents a stark choice with eternal consequences. To despise God’s word means to treat it as unimportant, to dismiss its commands, or to consider ourselves above its authority. The Hebrew word for “destroyed” suggests complete ruin, not merely temporary setback.
But those who fear God’s commandments, who approach His word with reverence and obedience, receive reward. This isn’t about earning salvation through works, but about the heart attitude that leads to salvation through Christ. When we truly fear God’s word, we recognize our need for the Savior it reveals.
Think About This
How do you respond when God’s word convicts you of sin? Do you dismiss it as outdated, make excuses, or rationalize your way around clear biblical commands? Or do you tremble at His word, recognizing that every syllable comes from the throne of heaven?
Your eternal destiny hangs on how you receive God’s word today. Those who treat it lightly face destruction. Those who reverence it find Christ, who is the Word made flesh. There is no middle ground, no neutral position when it comes to Scripture.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I have treated Your word carelessly. Help me to fear Your commandments, not with terror, but with the reverence due to Your holy nature. Open my heart to receive Your truth, even when it cuts deeply and calls me to repent. Lead me to Jesus, who perfectly fulfilled every word You have spoken. In His name I pray, Amen.
Closing Verse
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12
