READING: Deuteronomy 4-6, Mark 11:1-18
“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen.”
Deuteronomy 4:9
“You answer to the one and only, incredibly gracious God who keeps His word.” “Diligently guard your heart, and be careful to do all that He commands.” “Others are watching you, beginning with your children. Teach them well.” Combine these thoughts, and you have the summary of today’s reading from Deuteronomy.
I am especially struck by the mandate to “take care, and keep your soul diligently” (Deut. 4:9), “watch yourselves very carefully” (Deut. 4:15), “Take care” (Deut. 4:23), “be careful to do them [God’s commands]” (Deut. 6:3), and “take care lest you forget the Lord” (Deut. 6:12). Apparently, it’s easy for even the people of God to forget the magnificent power and blessings of God, even turning to false gods in spite of all of His warnings. The lure of contemporary idols sometimes blocks our memories of God’s past protection. Indeed, we seldom default into obedience, so we must continually guard our hearts and seek the face of God. He who has redeemed us from bondage to sin and freed us to live for Him is worthy of such a commitment – He “is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other” (Deut. 4:39).
Watching our heart and following God are not about only us, however. Like the nations in Israel’s day, the people around us might take note when they learn of our God who loves us, leads us, liberates us, and listens to us. Our children and our grandchildren need to know the stories of our faith so they might learn to respect God and teach their own children about Him. He is a compassionate God who fulfills His promises, but He is also a God who brings judgment on us to turn us back to Him. He who gives us blessings we don’t earn also reacts in jealous anger when we turn to other gods. It is thus loving and right for us to teach our children about Him when we lie down and when we rise up.
Frankly, I’m not sure that I guard my heart as diligently as I should. It’s far too easy for coveting or lust or frustration or anger to find an open door into my life. I pray that I would instead have the heart God requires: “Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!” (Deut. 5:29).
ACTION STEPS:
- Honestly review where you need to guard your heart more closely.
- Teach your children and grandchildren about God’s mercy and care.
PRAYER: “God, You are the only God. Help me to love You with all my being.”
TOMORROW'S READING: Deuteronomy 7-9, Mark 11:19-33