Deuteronomy 5-6
Psalm 25
Mark 9
-Devotion by Aaron Winner (SC)
What is the simplest way to draw closer to God? To receive our children and teach them about their Lord. Whether it is our blood, our church, or our villages, the relationship our Heavenly Father has with us is best understood when we become the loving adult meeting the spiritual needs of kids. Invite them to talk about God. Remind them of His commands, His promise, and their purpose in Him. Pray in the car. Read devotion at the dinner table. Take them to church. Hold them in your arms while you worship. Admonish and acknowledge God in front of them in all your struggles and victories.
I think these thoughts are best shared today in seeing the through-line in our reading listed below. Additionally, I have shared the words of a song recently inspired by these scriptures, which has acted as a daily reminder to the role I serve in my family, my occupation, my village, and my church. I have also attached a link of a generated version of this song that you are welcome to listen to as you contemplate the fulfillments of the challenge in today’s reading.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord Your 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 on your hearts. 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. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”- Deuteronomy 6:4-9
“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.’ He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.’” – Mark 9:35-37
“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.” – Psalm 25:7
The Only One
God is not a man that he should lie
Every promise He has made, he will supply
If we wander through the desert
And our walk is filled with strife
We can look to the heavens
For the coming Bread of Life
Come sing with me, oh God we believe
You are the Only One
Here this old and young, He’s still not done
Til every battle’s won
Write it on your doors and walls, hold it in your heart
Teach it to your children from His way they won’t depart
His Word will show, the Father alone is the Only One
God is not a man to change His mind
From beginning to the end there’s Jesus Christ
Though like sheep we’ve gone astray
He’s still searching for us now
Turn your eyes to God, ev’ry idol disavow
Come sing with me, oh God we believe
You’re the Only One
Here this old and young, He’s still not done
Til every battle’s won
Write it on your doors and walls, hold it in your heart
Teach it to your children from His way they won’t depart
His Word will show, the Father alone is the Only One
Here is the link if you would like to listen: https://suno.com/s/tKPiG0mCfWYUqZnU
Reflection Questions
- What happens when we don’t live out Deuteronomy 6:4-9? Whether you are a parent or not, how can you improve the way that you live out this passage?
- Give some examples of what it could look like to “welcome a child”. From Mark 9:35-37 and your own experiences, what are the benefits of welcoming a child? When was the last time you welcomed a child? In what additional way(s) can you practice welcoming a child this coming week?
- How do you allow God to teach you, so that you in turn can share with others? How do you hold God’s words in your heart? What else can you do to be more teachable? What happens when we don’t let God teach us?
Prayer
Dear God, the One and Only god, that makes You worthy of our praise and of my love with all my heart, soul, and strength. Thank you for sharing Your precious words with us. I want to learn from You, God, more and more. Help me to be teachable. Open my ears and my mind to lessons from You. Help me hold Your words – not my own, and not the world’s – but Your words – in my heart, throughout my home, and spilling over into every conversation. Show me how you want me to welcome the children so they receive a bit of Your words and the love of You and Your Son through me.
Seek Grow Love 