FREE THEME – The rest of the story in Deuteronomy 6
Yesterday we looked at the beginning of Deuteronomy 6 and saw God’s blueprint and purpose for spiritual education: God makes the rules and sends Moses to teach the people so that they will obey and receive God’s blessings. God’s people need to be learners who study what is right and do it – not just once or twice – but continually. Are they really God’s people if they don’t believe and act like it? And how can they believe and act like it if they haven’t truly learned what God requires? And, not just what others say God requires, for there are many who distort God’s Words and have not learned from Him. God’s word needs to be a vital part of us – “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.” (Deuteronomy 6:6). It is our connection to God Almighty.
But, it is not enough for you to be connected and learning. Your next job – is to be a teacher. For Moses continues, “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ” (Deuteronomy 6:7). It’s not enough for me, or for you, to be full of God’s Word – just for our own health and benefit and blessing. It must be shared. It must be passed on to others – and specifically to the next generation. They need to know about the One true God. They need to know about His love and faithfulness and also His requirements and even His anger. They need to know about the blessings and curses He laid out for His children – so they can choose wisely.
Further along in Deuteronomy 6 Moses reiterates – be sure to follow God’s laws for your life so you will “do what is right and good in the LORD’s sight, so that it may go well with you.” (6:18). But, it’s not enough to save yourself. In 6:20 we are to have an answer for our son (perhaps a teenager – or a college student) questioning why we live the way we do. We are to tell about God’s goodness and faithfulness and the promises we have seen Him keep.
We see this over and over again in Scripture. Learn – and teach. Listen – and speak. Live it – and Give it. In Psalm 78 we read:
Listen, O my people, to my instruction;
Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings of old,
3 Which we have heard and known,
And our fathers have told us.
4 We will not conceal them from their children,
But tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord,
And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.
5 For He established a testimony in Jacob
And appointed a law in Israel,
Which He commanded our fathers
That they should teach them to their children,
6 That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born,
That they may arise and tell them to their children,
7 That they should put their confidence in God
And not forget the works of God,
But keep His commandments,
8 And not be like their fathers,
A stubborn and rebellious generation,
A generation that did not prepare its heart
And whose spirit was not faithful to God.
The battle is real – and it is for the lives of our neighbors, our children, even the children yet to be born.
If your excuse is that you don’t know enough – see part 1 from yesterday – be a learner. Get into God’s Word and then pass it on. But don’t wait until you think you know everything (never) – start with what God teaches you today – and share it. And don’t be surprised when you learn even more as you seek to share it with others.
Keep Growing – and Helping Others Grow
Marcia Railton