Communicate God’s Word
Deuteronomy 6:1–9
President Ronald Regan was nicknamed the Great Communicator. I think God is the one deserving of the title the Great Communicator. As someone stated, “The issue with communication is that we think it happened.” God communicated His word to us. He commands us to communicate His word with others.
When we share God’s word either through witness or teaching the Bible to others, we grow in our knowledge and ability to apply God’s word to our lives.
Obedience to God’s word benefits us and others. (1–3)
When I was a young Christian, I bought a book with the title “The Jesus Person Pocket Promise Book.” The book arranged numerous biblical promises into categories. I have never heard of a book that collects the commands of God. Yet, God promised to bless on the condition of obedience.
Notice the progression in this passage. God commanded Moses to teach you, so that you (singular) may follow the commands. Keeping them across generations (you, your son and your grandson) leads to generational blessings. Notice the conditions of blessedness: teach, follow, keep, listen, be careful to follow.
Love for God compels us to trust and obey Him. (4–5)
Deuteronomy 6:4 is the key confessional statement of the Hebrew people. The Hebrew people refer to this passage as the Shema, a term that means hear. God is one, and He alone must be worshiped. Worship of the one God results in unity among the people of God. God commanded all the Israelites to listen (a singular verb). Furthermore, the term your in your heart, your soul and your strength is a singular term. As individuals listen and love God, they become the unified and one people of God.
Obedience of God’s people brings unity within God’s people. Jesus stated Deuteronomy 6:5 is the first and great commandment. It describes obedience to God based on love rather than mere duty.
Love for others compels us to share God’s word at every opportunity. (6–9)
God desires His words to dwell in the heart of believers. What dwells in our heart will influence every aspect of our being — when we sit, when we walk along a road and when we lie down or get up.
This passage reminds us of the importance of teaching God’s word to our family. We are to teach God’s word repeatedly during activities such as when we sit, walk, lie down and get up.
As we serve others with our hands, we are communicating God’s word. As we think God’s thoughts in our mind, we communicate God’s word. Sharing God’s word links back to loving God with all our heart, our soul and our strength. We share God’s word privately in and through our house as well as publicly in the city gates — the location of business and politics.
This passage describes a love that compels us to share God’s word outside the house of God. If we are honest, we perhaps need to confess that we attempt to share God’s word by a “y’all come to church” methodology rather than a methodology of sharing the gospel in the public arenas of job, school and politics — the arena of our everyday lives.
In the 1970s, a popular song in contemporary Christian music was titled, “Pass it On.” This Bible passage challenges believers in 2022 to pass it on.
By Mark Rathel
Professor at the Baptist College of Florida in Graceville, Florida
