History Makers And World ChangersSample

God knew that sinful man had to have rules to attempt to maintain right relationships. When He gave Moses the Ten Commandments recorded in Deuteronomy 5, the first four had to do with Israel’s relationship with God while the final six had to do with their relationships with one another. Those six were given to protect the community at large. But the common intention for all ten rules was clearly focused on keeping order in mankind’s relationships.

Following the declaration of these commandments, Moses then communicated God’s heart for His relationship with His people and for their relationships with one another—the love behind the Law.

Verse 5 is the first time we see the foundation for what Jesus would later call the “first and greatest commandment.” In verses 6 through 9, Moses told the people that God wanted His laws to saturate all aspects of life—their hearts, parenting, homes, and neighborhoods. He invited them to place the commands at the forefront of all their activities, from the time they got up to the moment they lay down to sleep. From their individual houses to the city gates, this nation’s relationship with God should be displayed in their lives.

And why would the people do this? What should be their driving force motivating such focused and intentional obedience? Loving their God with all they had in their hearts and souls.

In His wisdom and sovereignty, God knew mankind’s relationship with Him and His Word would support and strengthen every area of life and all relationships like nothing else possibly could.

Today’s film clip is a depiction of the Israeli soldiers gathered at the Western Wall to pray after entering into and retaking Jerusalem. What these men had been through drew them humbly to the God of their ancestors, and to lean on one another, in this historic moment as they declared the words of today’s passage, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one.”

Consider today how you can connect God’s Word to your own life in a deeper way to impact and strengthen your relationship not only with Him, but also with all those around you.