Godly Education in the Home

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 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 in the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, ESV).

For Judaism, Deuteronomy 6:6-9 became the confession of faith recited twice daily in the home and also as the first act of worship in the Jewish synagogue. The name for this confession is the Shema, so named because of the first word in verse 4 in Hebrew. The children of Israel were about to go in and possess the Promised Land. They needed stability and direction to overcome the trials of settling into the new land and resisting the paganism they would encounter. They were to teach diligently the precepts of the Lord God and the importance of loving Him with heart, soul and might. They were instructed to teach His commandments diligently in the home, in the community, at night and in the morning. Writing this passage on parchment (see Exodus 13:1-10, 11-16, Deut. 6:4-9; 11:13-21) and binding it in a special box on the hand (or forearm), on the forehead (between the eyes) and on the doorpost (the entrance gate to the home) was commanded as a way to remind the people to follow the Lord. These were visible reminders to keep the law of God. The doorpost reminder was called the mezuzah and the forearm and headpiece a phylactery. The intention behind the Shema (repeating, wearing and displaying it) was intended for good. The households and everyone in them were reminded of the presence of God and the obligation to love and follow Him. But often the best intentions can become stumbling blocks. By the time of Jesus (and even earlier) these outward displays of inner piety had become a means of boasting of devotion to the law and even by some to be sort of a charm or talisman to ward off evil spirits.

We need to know from the heart that there is only One God. Our love for Him should permeate “heart, soul and might”—a way of including all of life. When Jesus was asked by one of the teachers of the Law what of all the commandments was most important, Jesus answered: “ ‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: Hear, O Israwl, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.’ “ (Mark 12:29-31). Our churches have grave responsibility to teach the precepts of God, to teach sound doctrine and truth of the Word of God. But God has also commissioned the home to be a place where His Word is taught both by precept and example. “What you do speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you say,” is certainly true as children observe parents (and grandparents) and how they teach and live out the truths of God. Pray that heads of our homes will return to the importance of making God known to all who enter and live there. May we dedicate our home as a sanctuary where God’s way is taught and lived out.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Monday, November 1, 2010

Faith and Works

"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,' but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works...For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (James 2:14-18, 26 ,NKJV) [Read James 2:14-26.]

Here is another of the controversial passages in James. It seems to directly contradict the teachings of Paul the Apostle. One of the Apostle's most quoted passages is Ephesians 2:8-10: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (NKJV) Why would James, then, put such strong emphasis on faith with works? He was setting up a learning situation well-known and used in his day called a "diatribe". In this style of teaching, a question is posed that can have two possible answers. James starts this section of faith and works with such a question. Every day the Jews began prayers by quoting Deuteronomy 6:4: "The Lord is our God, the Lord is one." It could be argued that this statement of faith was enough to save a person. There was no need to do good works. Stating and testifying to one's faith was enough. That had carried over into the Christian community. James says very emphatically in this passage that even the devils believe in God and tremble. Stating faith is not enough. The faith-holder must bear fruit in his life: good works that are demonstrated in compassionate acts for others. A strong faith will make the Christian want to serve through good works. James used as strong points in this teaching on faith and works that Abraham's offering his Isaac as a sacrifice (whom God miraculously saved from death) was an example of the works that show faith. So was the harlot Rahab's action in saving the Hebrew spies sent by Joshua to scout out the strength of Jericho. (Joshua 2).

James wrote before the sect of Judaizers began their assault against the Christian church, but Paul was having to deal with them in his writings. This group wanted the work of the ceremonial law added to trust in Christ as means of salvation. James wrote to urge than an empty faith void of works is not God-honoring. His statement in 2:24: "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only," though extremely controversial, is intended to lead those with faith to do good works. He summarizes his "diatribe" form of teaching verse 26: "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." James is arguing strongly against a faith with intellectual assent but no fruits in the Christian life. Faith is not repeating words even demons can repeat. Faith is commitment to Jesus Christ, depending on Him for salvation, and serving Him as directed by the Holy Spirit. Faith is shown by the action it produces. And this action is good works. Salvation is God's work that motivates us to work for Him, according to His good purpose for us. Faith in Christ has made the Christian a new creature whose new nature makes him want to seek and do God's work and life a godly life. Praise be to God.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Monday, October 18, 2010

Love God—A Command

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.” -Deuteronomy 6:5 (NKJV)

Not a choice to do or not to do, but a command: “Love the Lord your God.”
Moses had the challenging responsibility of leading the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage into the Promised Land, the land God was preparing for their habitation.

“Love the Lord your God,” Moses said to the people. That was a direction straight from Jehovah God. “Love God,” not idols of the nations you will encounter. Not a golden calf made in the wilderness because the people wanted an image for a diety made by their own hands, one they could see. But love God—the Great I Am, the only true and living God, the One leading, the One to be feared and held in reverence. “Love the Lord your God.” No buts, ifs, ands and maybes—but a positive allegiance, a whole-hearted devotion—love God.

How are we to love God? “With all your heart.” The heart is the center of life. The heart is believed to be the place where determination, courage, emotions and vitality originate. To love God with the heart is to honor God devotedly and with complete commitment.

“ Love God with all your soul.” The soul is the center of one’s spiritual being, dedication and purpose. The soul is not divided in loyalty but pledges to love God unconditionally. The soul is the part of a person that lives on even beyond death. To love God with the soul is to love Him eternally. There is no separation from a loving God and a loving devotee.

“Love God with all your might.” Might is the center of power, strength and ability to fight. Occasions would come when the children of Israel (and we, as well) would need to do battle for the Lord God. Such battles require might, strength, the ability to stand firmly.

Loving God is not optional. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God.” It is imperative. Love Him with heart, soul and might. When we love a person unconditionally, we want to be in that person’s presence, have fellowship, converse with, enjoy, please and esteem. Loving God involves one’s whole being.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Wednesday, February 3, 2010