From: March 26, 2024
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7 ESV).
Moses reminded the people of the “words,” which God had commanded them. These words included what they referred to as the “Ten Words” or the Ten Commandments and many other instructions about how to apply them. He told them that these words should first be on their own hearts. They should know them by heart and keep them from the heart.
Then from their hearts, they were to teach their children what Moses had taught them. They were to be diligent in teaching them, both formally and informally, as a way of life. They were to weave this teaching of God’s Word into every facet of their day together with their children.
This is still the job of parenting. We are to talk of these “words” from God at the breakfast table and the dinner table, on the way to school and on the way to work, while walking around the block and while driving in the car, when we rise up and when we lay down at night. The responsibility for educating our children belongs not to the school, nor the church, but to us. We may enlist the school and church in our efforts, but the primary role belongs to fathers and mothers.
Are you teaching your children and grandchildren the “words” of God as a part of your everyday life?
PRAYER: Dear Father, we love Your Word. Help us to first apply it to our own hearts that we might not be hypocritical in what we teach. Help us to make living and sharing Your Word part of our everyday life. Show grace and mercy to us as we entrust these words to our children that they too would love You and Your Word with all their hearts. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: March 26, 2023
“And the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding countryside” (Luke 7:17 NLT).
After Jesus interrupted a funeral procession to raise a widow’s son from the dead, the news of his miracles and teachings spread throughout Judea and the whole vicinity. This illustrates a truth easily discovered anywhere humans dwell, namely, news spreads. Whether it’s good or bad news, people love to talk about the latest happenings.
The gospel is good news. The gospel begins to spread when it happens afresh in someone’s life. Whenever the word gets out that someone has believed the gospel and experienced the kind of life change that only comes from Jesus, it becomes fresh news. As news of miraculous life change is shared, a doorway of spiritual opportunity is opened. The good news is shared and people believe.
Imagine what it would look like for people who don’t even yet know Jesus to start talking about him. Instead of the weather or the latest sports update, what would it take to see a world abuzz with gospel conversations? I suppose someone has to start spreading the good news.
PRAYER: Dear Father, empower us with your Spirit to be witnesses of what Christ has done in our lives. Draw people to yourself to heal those who are hurting and to set free those in bondage. May the news of your Son be on everyone’s lips. We would desire to see you move in our city, so that the good news spreads throughout. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: March 26, 2016
Jesus is a funeral crasher. When he encountered the crying widow of Nain marching behind her only son’s coffin in a funeral procession, he interrupted their progress (Who does that?). He was moved with compassion for the widow whose only link to a hopeful future lay in the casket. The rights and possessions of her husband belonged to her now dead son. She would be left destitute and alone. But Jesus crashed the funeral and told the widow, “Don’t cry!” How offensive this would be if he were only telling her to deny her feelings. After all, what else could she do? She had no power to overcome death. She had every right to those tears! Who is this that he would stop a funeral along with its tears? He is Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life. And when death meets Life, Life wins. So, Jesus touched the bier and told the young man to arise. And the dead boy arose and began to speak, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. Because Jesus has defeated sin, death, and the grave, He is able to turn our mourning into laughter.
From: March 26, 2015
In Deuteronomy, Moses restated the wilderness stories and God’s law to encourage the Israelites to remember and keep their covenant with the Lord. He encouraged them to make God’s Word a daily part of their lives, so that they knew it in their hearts. The above verse is known as the “Shema” (Pronounced “shee-mah,” it means “listen, hear”). It became the centerpiece of the the Jewish morning and evening prayers. Today, you can still hear it sung by the cantor in the synagogue every Sabbath and taught to every Jewish child as a bedtime prayer. “Shema, Yisrael Adonai eloheinu Adonai echad.” The cantor sings in a lilting baritone, sounding like a cross between singing and chanting. Of course, they substitute the word “Adonai” (Lord) for the actual name of God (“YHWH – Yahweh”) as found in Deuteronomy, because they consider the Name too holy to say. Singing, repeating daily, praying, and memorizing God’s Word can help us know it by heart. Yet, if we want the Word “written” on our hearts, only faith in Christ will move it from stone tablets to circumcised hearts.