Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our 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.
The heart was considered the command control center of life. It is where commitments, decisions, relationships, and actions were born. When Moses describes the future that is before God's people and the importance of passing along a legacy of faith to the next generation and generations to come, he specifically points out that this faith must be "on their hearts".
So here is the straight up truth: Your children have a front row seat to your life. If your relationship to the Lord is not detected in your commitments, decisions, relationships, and actions, there is a good chance it never really gets impressed upon them! There is no more beautiful life or love than that of Jesus.
There is no other name under heaven and earth by which we must be saved. While just the mention of Jesus and the good news can change lives, the most healthy foundation upon which Jesus and the gospel is communicated convincingly is when what you say about Him corresponds with the way this relationship with Him impacts your commitments, decisions, relationships, and actions. If your faith does not matter to you and find expression in the real places of your life, why would you believe it would matter to your children?
Does your walk of faith impact how you will treat people today? Does your faith impact your compassion for those in need today? Does your faith inform your character and integrity to such a degree that your children see you make tough choices that reflect doing what is right in God's eyes regardless of the cost? Does your relationship with the Lord influence how you use your time today?
Heavenly Father, may my faith live and find expression in the real places of life today....my attitude, the way I relate to others, my priorities, the use of my time, the words I speak, my integrity. Amen.
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