Can You Hear Me Now?
Can You Hear Me Now?
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Did you know it’s biblical to teach your children about God, to talk about God in your home, to talk about God with your neighbors and friends, before you go to bed and first thing when you wake up?
The Hebrews were so successful at these principals. Serving and honoring God didn’t happen once a week. It was a way of life. It was their lifestyle.
We have come a long way from those teachings and principals. And unfortunately we have gone far from it as well.
We feel good about going to church one day a week, maybe two. Reading our devotionals once a day. We check the list and move on. We pray sometimes. We put God in our lives when it’s convenient for us. So when will we make it a priority. I know you think about it often, so do I.
Deuteronomy 6 makes it clear - worshiping God is to be done all day, every day and teaching your children about God is commanded. God is to be the centerpiece of your life. He is the one God!
You say it’s impossible. Yet you can sit and do one task while thinking of something else.
I catch myself daily, during my morning prayer and devotion - sliding off track. Thinking about the days events or tasks. It’s interesting that our thoughts and actions can move so quickly from God. My challenge is to get it the other way around.
I’ve started to pray mid-morning and in the afternoon. No specific reason, not asking for anything in particular, just taking time to give praise to God. It can be done. We just have to push aside everything else in our lives.
It’s hard to make something a habit or routine in the beginning. But once you start, it’s even harder to stop. The key is to start.
Saying you’ll start or stop something is one thing, it’s completely different when you actually do it.
You say your children are grown. Even better. People need direction, no matter the age, especially biblical direction. Your children will always be your children. And they need to hear you talk about God.
We have no problem giving advice to people or freely offering our opinion on every other matter under the sun. Why not provide your family biblical principals? If you’re uncomfortable talking about the Bible with your adult children, pray for them. Tell them that you are praying for them. If they aren’t hearing it from you, chances are, they aren’t hearing it all.
Think about the things you worry about the most. Money, family issues, friends or major decisions. Where is God during those times? He should be at the front. You and your family should go to God together. Do you pray with your family? Do you have a Bible study time with your spouse or children?
People in your life should hear you talk about God. There isn’t much more to that. It is biblically commanded. There is one God and we are to talk about Him, go to Him and to bring Him into our lives. God is to be revered.
Take time today to read this verse. Read each sentence and listen to your mind say the words. Then put it into action. You decide the amount of time you make for God in your home or your life.
“And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:29-31