Day 17 of 500.
TheNewAndLivingWay.com
The Family of God
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children..”
When I wrote yesterday on family I planned to avoid that topic again for a long time. Then a friend asked me to take his Sunday School Class for tomorrow. The title of the lesson was, “Foundation for a Godly Family, God’s truth is meant to be the foundation of the home.”
So much for my plans.
HERE ARE MY NOTES:
Our regular teacher lost his dad two days ago and we will bury him today. We extend to the family our prayers, tears and love. And not just because they are our friends, but we as Christians know that they are OUR family as well. We too lost a brother.
We used to sing a song years ago that went:
I’m so glad I’m a part of the Family of God,
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I’m part of the family,
The Family of God
You will notice, we say “brother, and sister” ’round here,
It’s because, we’re a family, and these are so near;
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,
And rejoice, in each victory, in this family so dear.
I’m so glad I’m a part of the Family of God,
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I’m part of the family,
The Family of God
Welcome to Sunday School, especially those that rarely attend. It is good that we can have you via Facebook if not in person. Sunday School is the most important church gathering of the week. Many have heard me for years walk the halls singing:
Everybody ought to go to Sunday School,
Sunday School, Sunday School.
Everybody ought to go to Sunday School,
and learn the Golden Rule!
Class, I know you all studied this week’s lesson; what are we going to be talking about this morning?
FAMILY!!
Our Golden Text today is:
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 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.”
Where are we in the bible here, what context? This is after the 40 years in the desert. God’s people are finally going to cross over into the promised land.
Moses reminds them that they are indeed God’s chosen people and they should act like it.
IT WAS LIKE WHEN YOU TELL YOUR KIDS, “DON’T YOU EMBARRASS ME!”
They must remember their manners, remember the rules.
So Moses speaks first to the parents, the ones that should know better.
He knew that the spiritual health of this new nation would be gained or lost in the home.
History has a way of repeating itself. That is why this is so important to us now.
Deut 6:1-5
1“Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, 2 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. 3 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. 4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Do not forget the things that you learned, Moses is saying.
How and where did they learn them? In the streets, hanging out behind the tents?
You must make sure that you and your children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, etc are in church.
Why? Look at verse 2, so that you learn to fear the Lord. It is not something born into us.
Like fire it is powerful and does great and mighty things, but if not respected it is dangerous.
Why else? Verses 2-3. Long life blessings and come from learning and adhering to the Word of God.
In verse 4, the first word means, LISTEN…It’s like snapping your fingers, telling kids to pay attention to what I’m going to say next. And what he says next is, “THIS IS WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT, THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD!!!!
This is what we stand for. This is what separates us from the world.
Moses lets them know the they can hold to this and not give in to the world if they live by Verse 5, Love God with ALL their heart, ALL their soul and ALL their might.
ALL!! Their emotions, thoughts and even physical abilities.
OK GOD YOU GAVE ME THE WHAT, NOW HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS?
Deut 6:6-9
6And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7You 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. 8You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Verse 6, YOU have to know them yourself, THEY MUST BE ON YOUR HEART. Burnt into all that you know and love.
Verse 7, you WILL teach them, that’s a WHEN not an IF. When you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Like saying you only have to do this on days that end in Y.
Verse 8, speaks of this figuratively, but some “RELIGIOUS” people did it literally. He was saying that we must remember God’s teaching in everything we put our hand to. Whenever we work. Whenever a deal is closed in a handshake. God is there, our inward acceptance of His teaching is reflected in our outward actions.
Verse 8 also mentions, “Between you eyes” What is there? It’s all we think of, our thoughts. It is also a reminder to control all we see. BE CAREFUL LITTLE EYES WHAT YOU SEE, the song teaches us.
Verse 9, speaks of two things; your house, at home and your gates, which would symbolize the entry in a town with walls. He is saying, “Live like you are God’s child everywhere you go, not just at home. NO HIPOCRISY.
Again “religious” people did it literally. They hung boxes of prayers on the doorposts or carved symbols in their gates.
Deuteronomy 6: 10 “And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, 11 and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, 12 then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
God will bless you. He will give you what He wants you to have.
He wants you to have the best, but never forget, He got you where you are, He loved you even when you were lost in sin.
Like Bill Cosby used to say, “I brought you in this world, I can take you out.” “I can get rid of you and make another one that looks just like you” God says, “you are my chosen people, but I’m free to choose again.”
This is important because He is “God the Father.” We have to relate that to something here on Earth to understand. If you don’t have an Earthly loving Father, then GOOD, GOOD, FATHER is a song you can’t understand. We need Godly parents here on Earth for context.
And not just Father analogies exist in scripture; God knew the importance of mothers. Remember, He went to Mary first.
Hosea 13:8 “Like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will attack them and tear them asunder…”
Isaiah 66:13 “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”
Isaiah 49:15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.”
Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:34 Jesus said, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”
He wants to be mother and father to us all. Not that God is trans-gender or pan-gender, but He is a God of compassion and correction both at the same time.
Verse 12, “take care lest you forget the Lord.” God’s blessings for you speak to Him, His power, His mercy, not to anything you or I did to deserve it. He will receive the glory, the credit, either for standing you up, or sitting you down.
They needed to remember these things as they went into the promised land. They would not have His pillar of fire or cloud, they would not have Moses and his rod. They would see temptations they had never seen, hear of gods they had never imagined. Meet people that believed in many gods, and even no gods. Sound familiar?
They were coming out of 40 years in the desert. But remember, time in the desert in the bible is never intended as punishment or “busy work.” Jesus went into the desert to reflect on what he had learned, away from the constant distractions and negative influence of this world.
Find time this week to get with your children, your nephews, nieces, younger siblings, kids in the neighborhood, and tell them about Jesus. Don’t just say, “don’t do that.” Show them why in God’s Word. Bring them to church, especially Sunday School, to see that there is an alternative to the life they may see at home or on TV. Adults that love them and want the best for them, and ask nothing in return. Let them know that people exist that want to pour into there lives and not just take.
They need to know what it means to be “A part of the family of God.”
There own homes may not have a Good, Good Father or a Praying Mother.
They sure won’t see a model family on TV.
The hope for the nation is found in the home.
Hate, racism and physical abuse are developed or curtailed in the home.
If their own homes and families won’t give them a model for Christian love, then we the church must become their family. Love on them. Encourage them. The world beats up and belittles them enough. Give them a place of hope.
Hope to see you this Sunday!
Your fellow family member,
Brother Billy