Walking in 2020 Within God's Blessings

Walking in 2020 Within God's Blessings

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Continuing with last week's topic of walking in God's blessings, we look at God's words to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land. The Red Sea had been crossed, but not the Jordan River. Moreover, except for three people, everyone else from the previous generation had died before crossing the Jordan. It was the new generation that would enter the Promised Land, and they had concerns.

The next generation knew how the previous generation had failed, so they asked Moses how they could act so they would not fail. Moses told the Israelites that God had said, 

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."

Deuteronomy 6:5 ESV

By your heart, we understand that this means our whole being. Even when our emotions tell us differently, we need to have our will push us on. Even when our circumstances show us differently, we still press on with our commitment to God daily. 

Our entailment for the love of God involves putting His words on our heart. This means patterning our lives according to the word of God. 

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.

Deuteronomy 6:6 ESV

Most Christians do not really know God, and until we know God, we cannot love God. Reading the word of God allows us to know God. By praying to God, we show that we want to know God more. We need to make sacrifices to read and learn about God. 

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."

John 14:6-7 ESV

We need to teach God's laws to our children.

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 6:7 ESV

God wants us to love him so that things will be well with us. God wants us to be successful, to be blessed and to be protected for us and the generations to follow. God wants us to pass on His words to your children and everyone on your household. 

that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord , the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

Deuteronomy 6:2-3 ESV

Your lifestyle should be transformed. What you say needs to be demonstrated through your actions. This is truly God working in your life to be seen by others.

You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

Deuteronomy 6:8 ESV

We cannot teach God until we know God. We need to study God and His word. Then we can teach our children about God. The best heritage that we can pass on to our children is not material wealth but the love of God.

We also need to act in a way that people outside our homes would see that we are unique because we are God's people. We need to act in a way that others would be drawn to God's way and love.

You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:9 ESV

It is only when we truly and completely follow God that we and future generations will be blessed, and those outside of the church will see God’s goodness and glory.