Deuteronomy 6:5-9

Something happened last week in the White House press room that doesn’t happen very often. Maybe never. A bible verse was read.

Actor Matthew McConaughey spoke passionately from the podium urging Congress to address the issue of gun violence in our country. In doing so, he cited a story of one of the young victims from his hometown, Uvalde, Texas.

McConaughey told about 10-year-old Ellie Garcia, who had been preparing to read a Bible verse to her Wednesday night Bible class. Tragically, Ellie never got to read it. Take a moment to read and think about it.

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deut. 6:5).

What little Ellie was going to read is what we need. I need it. You need it. Our country needs it. It’s a return to God.

In a world darkened by sin and a culture that has lost its way, and led astray by the devil’s devices, we are adrift morally.  In addition to these mass shootings, here is just a fraction of what’s going on in our country.

♦A pro-life pregnancy center was firebombed.

♦A man went to the home of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and admitted he want to kill him.

♦A coach loses his job for going to the center of the football field and praying.

♦Homosexual behavior is not only accepted but is praised and an entire month is dedicated to being proud of it.

♦Some Elementary schools are hosting a drag queen story hour.

♦A Megachurch recently received 38 reports of sexual misconduct by four of its pastors.

♦A West Virginia School district was sued by atheists and settled out of court for $225,000 because they offered an elective Bible class.

♦Couples are celebrating the dissolution of their marriage with divorce parties.

All of this and so much more affirms our need to return to God, to His Word, and to follow the teaching of His Son, Jesus Christ. It reminds us that we need to pray the prayer of 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

We have become a broken nation. Broken homes. Broken young men. Broken leaders. Broken by sin.

A return to God begins with me. My family. And my home. The context of little Ellie’s verse emphasizes the important role of parents in forming the character of their children.

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 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. (Deut. 6:6-9).

Like ancient Israel, Christian parents need to reinforce God’s Word at every opportunity and in every circumstance of life. When you are sitting around the house. In your daily walk. When you get up in the morning. When you go to bed at night.

Note the expressions used by Moses on how the Word regulates our lives and what they mean.

• “Bind them as a sign on your hand.” God’s Word directs every action.
• “Frontlets between your eyes.” God’s Word controls our thoughts.
• “Write them on the doorposts of your house.” God’s Word regulates our family life.
• “Write them on the gates of the city.” God’s Word guides our social interactions and our relationships with others.

Getting back to God is our only hope. It begins by rededicating our lives to Him one heart at a time. And one home at a time.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman