Real Love remembers

Thoughts on Deuteronomy 6

For Day 1 & 2 of our Quarterly “Fast” (or, more appropriately, “Life Assessment and Planning with the Big Boss”), God reminds me of the big picture and practical actions we can apply for our household. (My household.. I sometimes forget that I am no longer just a member, but actually leading my own household..)

These actions will help in reminding us to fear the Lord. To not forget His greatness, and the great things he has done and will do.

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““Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6:4-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The simplest commands (to understand) are often the hardest to do.

Love God with all your heart, all your soul, all your might. What does that look like? It could mean that with everything we say (from out of the mouth, the heart speaks), everything we think, and everything we do, it all revolves around the goal of pleasing God. Simply – if you love someone, you would want that person to be happy. Make God happy.

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Some practical actions:

  • “These words shall be on your heart” : Read and Meditate on God’s word regularly. And, our new target for this year, Memorize scripture.
  • “Teach and talk about it to your children, when you sit, walk, lie down, rise” : Make a habit to talk spiritual things during meal times (sit), travel times (walk), before sleeping and weekend mornings.
  • “Bind them on your hands, write them around house” : Set up reminders on our phones (hands), and around the house.

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The important thing is this, and this will be repeated again and again in Deuteronomy:

“then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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This is what I am looking forward to:

““When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?’”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6:20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/deu.6.20.esv

Then we can share to them – God’s great story of Redemption.

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Generally speaking, people are drawn to the idea of self redemption – “there is good in you” a la Star Wars (Original Trilogy). But the Christian believes that “there is good only in God”.

We know and understand that we are unable to redeem ourselves. There’s just no way. This seems like a defeatist point of view. Though perceived as weakness, this is actually our greatest strength.

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