...and you 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 up. (Deuteronomy 6:7 Amplified Bible-AMP)
Deuteronomy 6:7, in its completeness with verses 5 and 6, talks about loving God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind (every essence of your being) and then once the word is in your heart, your mind, and your soul, you live them...all the time!
For now, I would like to focus on the last part of verse 7 (which is quoted above)
What does that look like, Living God's word all of the time?
Talking about God's word, Living God's word, Teaching God's word, all the time? That does not sound easy!
When I first read this passage, I talked to myself, as I often do, (don't judge) I said,
"self, do we live God's word, teach God's word, talk God's word, everywhere we are and go? All the time? OR are we selective about where we live, talk it, and teach it?"
Looking in the mirror, I realized I was not the fairest in the land, the answer wasn't pretty.
For now, I would like to focus on the last part of verse 7 (which is quoted above)
What does that look like, Living God's word all of the time?
Talking about God's word, Living God's word, Teaching God's word, all the time? That does not sound easy!
When I first read this passage, I talked to myself, as I often do, (don't judge) I said,
"self, do we live God's word, teach God's word, talk God's word, everywhere we are and go? All the time? OR are we selective about where we live, talk it, and teach it?"
Looking in the mirror, I realized I was not the fairest in the land, the answer wasn't pretty.
It's easy, for me, to fall into the trap of putting God's word in a box. It's easy to live His word when things are going well. It's easy to talk God's word when I'm in a good place, a safe place surrounded by others I know believe. It's easy to teach God's word when I think I know what I'm talking about.
But
What happens then?
Not in a safe place? I clam up
Things aren't going well? I try to fix things on my own
Not understanding? I say nothing, not wanting to look stupid
Not sure? I "fake it til I make it" even when I'm not really making it.
You see, living Gods word, having it in my heart, that's scary.
It means I might fail!
But
- What about all of those times I'm not in a safe place?
- When things aren't going well?
- When I don't have all the answers or really understand His word?
- When I'm unsure?
What happens then?
Not in a safe place? I clam up
Things aren't going well? I try to fix things on my own
Not understanding? I say nothing, not wanting to look stupid
Not sure? I "fake it til I make it" even when I'm not really making it.
You see, living Gods word, having it in my heart, that's scary.
It means I might fail!
Except...God tells me He did not give me a spirit of fear.
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but He has given us a spirit of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. Do not blush or be ashamed then, to testify to and for our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for His sake, but with me take your share of the suffering to which the preaching of the Gospel may expose you, and do it in the power of God. (2 Timothy 1:7-8) Amplified Bible (AMP) (emphasis my own)
Where does that leave me?
Leaning on him for all that I need to do.
You see, I feel, living God's word is about being sure every aspect of my life reflects and reveals what I know in my heart, my mind, my soul.
For me, living God's word, teaching God's word, and talking about God's word doesn't mean I am beating people over the head with scripture all of the time (although I am sure there are times when that is needed too).
I believe our greatest witness to these three things is in how we live our life.
In all things, our life should reflect what we do know of God's word.
How others see us, hear us, and experience us simply living our lives, that, in my humble opinion, is the best way to live God's word, talk God's word, and teach God's word all the time!
My life is not perfect, far from it! FAR from it! It's because of my imperfection that I am on a daily basis striving to show the world the word of God all the time!
I guess for me it comes down to three things that encompass what God asks me to do with his word. To be Warm (Kind), Empathetic (understanding), and Respectful (out of admiration) for others is something I am always striving for.
I want to live my life so others can learn about God's word, talk about God's word, and live God's word because they see how he is working in my life as I do these things.
In Part two we'll look at the first part of verse seven: teaching them (The Word of God) to our children, all the time and what that looks like for us as a family.
Don't miss it!
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but He has given us a spirit of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. Do not blush or be ashamed then, to testify to and for our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for His sake, but with me take your share of the suffering to which the preaching of the Gospel may expose you, and do it in the power of God. (2 Timothy 1:7-8) Amplified Bible (AMP) (emphasis my own)
Where does that leave me?
Leaning on him for all that I need to do.
You see, I feel, living God's word is about being sure every aspect of my life reflects and reveals what I know in my heart, my mind, my soul.
For me, living God's word, teaching God's word, and talking about God's word doesn't mean I am beating people over the head with scripture all of the time (although I am sure there are times when that is needed too).
I believe our greatest witness to these three things is in how we live our life.
- How we live our lives around those who don't believe.
- How we live our lives when things aren't going well.
- How we live our lives when don't understand or really understand.
- How we live our lives when we are unsure.
In all things, our life should reflect what we do know of God's word.
How others see us, hear us, and experience us simply living our lives, that, in my humble opinion, is the best way to live God's word, talk God's word, and teach God's word all the time!
My life is not perfect, far from it! FAR from it! It's because of my imperfection that I am on a daily basis striving to show the world the word of God all the time!
I guess for me it comes down to three things that encompass what God asks me to do with his word. To be Warm (Kind), Empathetic (understanding), and Respectful (out of admiration) for others is something I am always striving for.
I want to live my life so others can learn about God's word, talk about God's word, and live God's word because they see how he is working in my life as I do these things.
In Part two we'll look at the first part of verse seven: teaching them (The Word of God) to our children, all the time and what that looks like for us as a family.
Don't miss it!
How do you think we best talk about, teach about, and live God's word all the time? Do you believe how we live our lives is a good witness of our love for the word?