“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 by 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.”
…When you walk by the way…
A Deuteronomy 6 Home
God in the Home - God created man, woman, child and the family unit to reflect His image. Each family is uniquely created and molded just as each individual within the family is. It is within this uniqueness that God’s love, grace, mercy, humility, selflessness and truths are lived out and shared with a broken and hurting world. God created families to be His hands and feet in the world - a city on a hill shining His healing light for all to experience.
But the world screams out for our attention - creating many distractions and busy calendars that keeps us from living the better life God intended. God created us to live in sacred rhythms that bring life, refreshment, joy and peace. The thief however comes to kill, steal and destroy all of that.
In Luke 10: 38-42, we read “Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to Him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’” What distractions are keeping us from sitting at the feet of Jesus? What could be adjusted to ensure that a life of Deuteronomy 6 is being lived out in our lives and in our homes? Through Jesus, we are blessed with every spiritual blessings and an abundant life is prepared for each of us. Are we settling for less than the abundant life Jesus has planned for us?
Living in the Liberty of Christ
Christ created us to be free… free to worship, work, play and serve as uniquely as He created each of us. And that goes for our families as well. Each family dances to it’s own beat set by God Himself - a rhythm that reflects the uniqueness of each individual member, but comes together as a new beautiful piece. DON’T COMPARE your family with anyone else’s family! Rejoice instead in the beauty that is in your family and the beauty found in others. ENCOURAGE each other, SHARE with each other, but BE YOU!
This freedom Christ calls us into however is being attacked more than ever these days. BUSY - Buried Under Satan’s Yoke. God created a world to thrive out of rhythms - seasons, tides, life cycles, etc. We are no exception. And yet the world screams out to us constantly, robbing us of quieter moments, relationships, rest, sabbath… We put our hands in everything, loading up on experiences, but never mastering the skills or being present to the moments and people in front of us. We seek to learn and do more, but find ourselves listening and loving less. We seek to know about God, but don’t sit at His feet and rest in Him. We tend to try to make good fruit, instead of abiding in Him and watching the fruit He makes through us. It’s time we reclaim what is rightfully ours in Christ, the freedom to live in the joy and peace of His sacred rhythms and love. What is making your family a captive today?
Create a Family Rule of Life. All of us follow our own unspoken ‘rules of life’ - the routines of our days, how we use our time, how we worship and show love. What unspoken ‘rules’ do our families follow? Instead of letting life write these ‘rules’ for us, let’s write one for our own family that better matches the uniqueness and freedom Christ created us for. So what are your family’s gifts, interests, passions, values? What is your family living for? Spend some time working through these and create a Family Rule of Life. Adjust all your other activities to your Rule of Life. There are a lot of good things to do out there, but what is the ‘better portion’, the portion God has prepared for you and invited you into? See Crafting a Rule of Life by Stephen Macchia for a beautiful step by step process than can easily be adjusted for a family rule of life.
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified...
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”
Seek, Abide and Teach
“..but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” ~Matthew 6:33~
How are our families seeking God first?
How are we abiding in Christ, His word and His love?
How are we teaching and shepherding the younger generation about God?
Ideas for a Deuteronomy 6 Home
Study and store God’s word in our hearts through Scripture reading, memorization, Bible studies, etc
Worship together - at home, on the road, school, sports, hobbies, running errands, and church. What helps your family worship best; music, art, nature?
Lean into those sacred rhythms God created for us, work hard but don’t forget to rest. Soak in and protect the gift of sabbath each week.
Again, work hard and rest, but don’t forget to play! God created us to enjoy - to refresh and be refreshed. How does your family like to play? Are our homes a place of laughter and joy?
Pray! Pray together! Pray in the morning and evening, before meals and all throughout the day! Praying is both listening and talking with God. Prayer is our relationship with God. Check out our resources about prayer.
Creating a Rule of Life - a Family Rule of Life (see above)
God created us to live in community. Journey through life with other Christian families, spending time together in God’s word, prayer, play, and service. Who is in your spiritual family?
Together God created us to experience His love and to share it with those around us. How has God created your family to share His love with others? Are there other families you can join and together serve others?
Often the best thing we can do for our family is to get the help and healing we ourselves need. Just like we are reminded on a plan ride, put on your oxygen mask first; only then can you provide best for those entrusted to you. What strongholds need addressing? What healing needs to take place? Christ came that we may have an abundant life - a life in His freedom. Contact Shanna to learn more about care options for you and your family.
Check out my list of family resources and Bible studies.
“...But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
All photography provided by Andy Bulgerin