“And 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." –Deuteronomy 6:6-7
I am forgetful. Everyone who knows me, lives with me, or works with me knows this about me. I never remember where I put my keys. I regularly lose my wallet. I leave golf clubs all over the course. I walk downstairs to grab something for my wife, and I forget what she asked me to get before I reach the bottom step.
Can you relate to this frustration? To be human is to be forgetful. God never forgets, but we do. Because we are prone to forget, God gives us verses like Deuteronomy 6:6-7. We are forgetful people, but there are some things that we really, really need to remember. There are some truths that need to be etched on our hearts.
What Words?
What are the words that God told Moses to command His people to remember and teach? What words need to be ingrained in our hearts? “These words” refer to the command that Moses had just given:
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (Deuteronomy 6:5)
The command to love God supremely is the command that sums up all of God’s demands for us. There is no being like Him in the universe. God is utterly unique and uniquely glorious. Only God is worthy of our highest devotion and whole-hearted praise. These are the words that you need to think about, memorize, and teach. These are the words that you need to remember. These words are life and death for you and everyone around you.
We need these words in our hearts, but this does not happen effortlessly or by accident.
Remember These Words
Because I forget things so often, there are some things I go to great lengths to remember. I will put a sticky note on my refrigerator, set a reminder on my phone, or write a note on the bathroom mirror.
We are to take that level of intentionality to remember and pass on the teaching to treasure God. Moses is passionately pleading with God’s people to do whatever it takes to get these words into their hearts! Rehearse these words as you travel. Go to sleep and get up with these words on the tip of your tongue. If you are sitting or standing, walking or talking, remind yourself and your children about these words. There are no other words as important as these. Like the Israelites, we all are prone to forget that God is our greatest treasure.
If you are going to remember one thing for the rest of your life, let it be this: Jesus is my greatest treasure. If you are only going to pass down one thing to your children, let it be this: Jesus is their greatest treasure.
For Reflection
What are some practical ways that you can remind yourself of the preciousness of Jesus?
Are you helping people remember and treasure who God is and what He has done?
Aaron Browning is the pastor of preaching and vision at Northwest Bible Church in Saint Michael, MN, where he has served since 2013. He is married to Katlyn and they have three beautiful daughters. He grew up in Cleveland, OH and is a tortured fan of the Cleveland Browns. In the summer he enjoys softball and trying to convince his wife to golf with him.