February 26
Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026
Read: Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Devotion:
Deut. Ch 6:4 is known as the Shema (Hebrew for “hear”). This is the Jewish confession of faith, which is recited daily in prayer. It proclaims “monotheism” - the belief that there is only one supreme God.
Yahweh is the only true God distinct from all others.
Deut. v 5 is considered the great commandment...”And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Jesus himself highlights this as the greatest commandment in Mt. 22:37.
This requires total and wholehearted commitment to God, expressed through our complete love for Him, demonstrated in our full obedience to Him and to His Word.
The commandment requires not just a portion of our lives, or time spent on a certain day of the week; but a love and devotion to God which shapes our entire being, all of our actions and thoughts, and our daily walk through life.
V. 6 “these words are to be in your heart”. These commands are to be internalized or written on our hearts, so that our obedience isn’t a matter of legalism, but a heart response based on our understanding and love for our Father. We must have God’s Word on our hearts before we can teach them to the next generation.
V.7 “and you shall teach them diligently to your children..” When God’s words are on our hearts and in our minds we will naturally teach them.
One of my favorite things ever as my children grew, and even now as they are all “almost” fully grown, was to walk into a room and hear a natural conversation going on inside our home, or brought up in the car on the way to school or church about the Lord. Mulling over the meaning of certain scriptures, asking questions or giving their thoughts on what they had read or learned.
This is meant to be a constant daily part of life - when sitting, walking, lying down or rising - rather than an isolated event. Through the years our kids knew and looked forward to our Friday “Family Night”, which usually consisted of pizza and games or watching a movie together, along with a devotion and prayer time. It also involved worship together. I can particularly recall one night when big brother was playing guitar and big sister was singing, so 2-yr- old Shaylee ran to retrieve a little toy horn she had and started marching around the room playing her little heart out! So many amazing talks and planted seeds came from those special Friday nights together at home. A few years later on one of those nights, Shaylee went to her brother and expressed her belief and desire to give her heart to Jesus! Jesse then led his little sister through the plan of salvation, and in a prayer of repentance and acceptance. Praise the Lord!
V.8-9 “bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead, write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.”
In Jewish history, this phrase was mistakenly taken very literally and the people tied boxes containing these verses to their hands and foreheads! We don’t walk around today with scripture actually written on our hands and foreheads, but the evidence of God’s Word in our hearts and minds can permeate our daily lives in such a way, that it influences our personal behavior, and is displayed in a visible and meaningful way to the world!
Reflect:
How can I make God’s Word more of a natural part of my daily life as my family and I sit, walk, eat, drive, lie down?
Through my interactions with others, do they see God in my speech, behaviors, and the way that I treat them?
Pray:
Heavenly Father,
I’m so thankful that You are the one true God and You’ve given us your holy Word. I pray that our love and devotion to You will fill our hearts, minds and souls in a way that brings us to desire total obedience to You.
May we meditate on Your Word in our homes, workplaces and everywhere we have influence, so that others will see You in us and desire to know that same perfect love. Lord, bind your Word on our hands, hearts and minds so that it permeates every aspect of our lives and in our homes, workplaces, families, churches, communities and the whole world!
In Jesus’s Mighty name,
Amen!