Deuteronomy 11:18-21 - Love and Obey. Part 2

Deuteronomy 11:18-21 - Love and Obey. Part 2

Deuteronomy 11:18-21 (NLT) "So commit yourselves wholeheartedly 
to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on 
your forehead as reminders. 19 Teach them to your children. Talk 
about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you 
are going to bed and when you are getting up. 20 Write them on the 
doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 so that as long as the sky 
remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land 
the Lord swore to give your ancestors.  

  Parents often spend energy and time helping children develop 
in sports, academics, and the arts. These are valuable activities, 
but from God's perspective, helping children develop a living faith 
in the living God is far more important than anything else. In 
Deuteronomy 11:21 the Lord tells the Israelites that only when they love and 
worship Him wholeheartedly will He bless them and cause them to 
flourish. Failing to teach this to our children would be the greatest 
disservice. 
  How do parents, teachers, and others go about this? By being 
examples of those who are wholly devoted to loving, serving, and obeying 
Christ. By talking about God's truth wherever we are. Pointing children 
to God and the life-giving power of His Word is one of the greatest 
things we can do because it has eternal consequences. If you are a 
parent, make a new commitment to pass on God's truth to your children. 
If you are not a parent, look for opportunities to share God's 
truth with children with whom you spend time. 
  Prayer: LORD, I want to love you with all my heart and soul 
and lead children to love and honor you as well. Help me to live in 
such a way that they will be drawn to you. Show me practically how to 
talk with children - mine or others' - about your truth, teach them 
your principles, and help them apply Your Word to their lives. Bruce 
Wilkinson [Praying Through The Bible By Fuller re Deu.11:18-21] 

God asks that His people obey Him because their obedience is 
their strength and life (vv. 8-9). They could not prosper in the land 
without God's constant care and blessing (Matt. 8:33). The Word in the 
heart will control the hand, the eyes and the tongue and will protect 
and direct the household (vv. 18-19).  His "I will" is all the 
promise we need! If we choose to obey, God will bless, even though we 
may experience trials and burdens. If we choose to disobey, God will 
still keep His promise and chasten us. If we love Him (vv. 1, 13, 22), 
we will obey Him, and in that obedience is life. [Chapter by 
Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe]