Scripture Reading for February 22nd: Deuteronomy 5-7
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your foreheads. Write them on the door-frames of your houses and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9
This passage is known by faithful Jews as the “Shema”. The Hebrew word means “listen”. The Shema is quoted twice daily by devout Jews around the world reminding them of the importance of a relationship with the one true God. This passage was quoted in part by Jesus when he was asked which was the greatest commandment. He answered: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38)
God wants us to have ears to hear His voice! Remember that the nation of Israel did not want to hear God’s voice speaking His commandments. They had asked Moses to hear for them so they would not die. But faith comes by hearing the Word of God! (Romans 10:17)
There is no other God but God, the creator of heaven and earth. He is holy and complete in Himself. He loves them, desiring the best for them. His love is expressed in his Word and commandments. When we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, we are actively responding to His Word. Because we love Him, we obey His commands. (John 15:9-11) His joy will be in us and our life will be full!
We need to impress these commands of the Lord on our children. The most effective way to pass them on is to live them out and speak about them in the normal flow of life. Live them out from morning to night. Make them the focus of all you do because they are on your own heart! What an impact on the next generation! Are you listening?
Scripture Reading for February 21st: Deuteronomy 1-4
The name “Deuteronomy” literally means “second law”. Deuteronomy is quoted directly in 17 of the 27 New Testament books and alluded to nearly 80 more times. This book is a record of four sermons given by Moses to the congregation of Israel in the last months of his leadership. It records lessons he learned and wanted to pass on to the next generation who would possess the promised land.
Moses had led the nation for forty years as they circled the wilderness. A journey that should have taken less than two weeks stretched out because of grumbling, doubt and unbelief. (Deuteronomy 1:26-27) Moses, would not get to enter the promised land due to his dishonoring of God at Kadesh. (Numbers 20:8-12) God holds leaders to a higher standard because of the revelation and intimacy they share with Him.
Moses preached in the typical Jewish style of asking questions. “What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him?” “And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?” (Deuteronomy 4:7-8) They were a special people marked by God traveling with them. They were marked by the holiness of God’s law which set them apart from all other nations! Moses had learned that the Israelites must teach these truths to their children and grandchildren in order to enter into their promised land of inheritance and live successfully in it!
Today believers are marked with God’s presence through the Holy Spirit who lives in them. He has written God’s law on their hearts and enables them to walk by faith in God’s laws and Word. Thank Him for godly people who have passed their faith down to us!
“Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on earth below. There is no other. Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the Lord your God gives you for all time.” Deuteronomy 4:39-40