Deuteronomy 6:1-23
1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you. 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 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. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. 10 When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 13 Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. 14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; 15 for the LORD your God , who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. 16 Do not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah. 17 Be sure to keep the commands of the LORD your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. 18 Do what is right and good in the LORD'S sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers, 19 thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the LORD said. 20 In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?” 21 tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 Before our eyes the LORD sent miraculous signs and wonders—great and terrible—upon Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. 23 But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers.
God’s people were about to enter the promised land. They were less than a month out from the death of Moses. Joshua was about to lead them across the Jordan river. There were giants and there were more than forty other people groups living in the place where God had promised His people “a land flowing with milk and honey”.
Hey, can I just tell ya something? The immediate future certainly included many battles and plenty of reason for anxiety.
So... What was God’s big plan? What was the first item on the agenda to prepare His chosen people for this most difficult time? Did He say increase defense spending? Did He recommend they stockpile weapons? Did He order them to quickly roll over their 401K plans? Did He suggest they take out a savings account or a CD to prepare for a possible economic depression?
Nope. God says: "Diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God AND teach them diligently to your kids!"
And what was His reason?
"That it may be well with you."
"In order that you may go in and possess the good land."
"Oh, and by the way...BECAUSE THE LORD YOUR GOD SAID SO!"
Can I just tell ya something? This promise is a promise for a nation AND it’s a CONDITIONAL promise! It is predicated on parents diligently instructing their children in the Word of God, seeing to it that God’s Word stays at the forefront of their hearts.
Listen, it doesn’t matter what they teach in school. It doesn't matter how corrupt the government gets. If we aren’t fortifying our families with God’s Word AND Godly living… I can tell ya right now, we’re just trying to pass off the same snake oil this crazy world is selling!
Can I just tell ya something? I know we have an election coming up. And yes, it’s important. We certainly ALL need to register to vote AND vote! BUT, I believe the biggest problems we have in this nation Will NOT be fixed by who is living in the White House. They must be fixed by the parents in our homes!
It's pretty simply actually. God is telling us, if we want to protect our families from this messed up world we live in, then we need to remember and diligently keep His commands ANDaA teach our children to do the same.
This entry is taken from the sermon: "Remember" Click the link to listen to the entire sermon. This is the third sermon in a series. The entire sermon series audio is available here:
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