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Some things are too important to forget. We memorize phone numbers, birthdays, and anniversaries because they matter. God says His Word belongs in that same category. Deuteronomy 6 gives us a clear picture of how God instructed His people to keep His Word front and center, not just occasionally, but every single day.
What Is the Shema and Why Does It Matter?
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 contains one of the most well-known passages in all of Scripture, called the Shema. The Hebrew word “shema” means “hear” or “listen.” It is the classic Hebrew confession of faith.
“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.” – Deuteronomy 6:4-7 English Standard Version (ESV)
In just a few lines, this passage tells us who God is and what our response to Him should be. This was not optional for Israel. Every Israelite committed it to memory.
What Did the Israelites Do to Remember God’s Word?
The Israelites took this command seriously in a very practical way. They wrote these words on a small scroll and placed it inside a mezuzah, a tiny box attached to the doorpost of their home. Verses 8 and 9 of Deuteronomy 6 specifically commanded them to write God’s Word on their doorposts and gates.
Every time they walked in or out of their home, they were reminded of who God is and what He required of them. God wanted His people to keep His commands close, not tucked away and forgotten.
What Does It Mean to Love God with Everything You Have?
Before anything else in the Shema comes the recognition of who God is. “The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” There is one God, and He alone deserves our worship.
Then comes our response. Love Him with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. God took all of His commandments and boiled them down into one. Love the Lord, and not with leftovers. With everything you have.
- Your heart (your emotions and desires)
- Your soul (your inner life and Spirit)
- Your strength (your effort, energy, and action)
That kind of total commitment might sound overwhelming, but it is actually the most freeing way to live as a Christian. When your whole life is oriented around loving God, everything else finds its proper place.
How Do You Pass Faith On to Your Children?
God does not stop with just the individual. Verse 7 makes it clear that faith is meant to be passed on. “You shall teach them diligently to your children.” – Deuteronomy 6:7 English Standard Version (ESV)
Children learn faith in two primary ways. They watch the example set at home, and they are taught the Bible directly. Here is the hard truth: most kids who grow up with no desire to follow the Lord are simply reflecting the attitude they saw modeled at home. If faith is an afterthought for us, it will likely be an afterthought for them.
If we want our children to grow up loving God, we need to invest in what brings the greatest reward.
Does Teaching Your Kids About God Have to Be Formal?
Notice how practical God makes this in Deuteronomy 6:7. He does not describe a formal classroom setting or a weekly lecture. He describes everyday life.
- When you sit in your house (around the dinner table)
- When you walk along the road (in the car on the way to practice)
- When you lie down (right before bed)
- When you get up (first thing in the morning)
It is not one big conversation. It is a thousand small conversations woven into the fabric of daily life. Faith is not meant to be compartmentalized into Sunday mornings. It is meant to flow naturally through every part of the day.
What Is Your Modern-Day Mezuzah?
Most of us do not have a mezuzah on our front door, but the principle has not changed. God wants His Word written on our hearts. He wants us to commit it to memory and then live it out.
The question is: where are you placing God’s Word so that you actually see it? Consider putting a verse somewhere visible in your daily routine. Your bathroom mirror, your car dashboard, your phone lock screen. These are your modern-day mezuzah, simple reminders that keep God’s Word in front of you.
Life Application
This week, take Deuteronomy 6:5 and make it personal. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” – Deuteronomy 6:5 English Standard Version (ESV)
Write it down. Memorize it. Then place it somewhere you will see it every day. And if you have children or grandchildren in your life, look for one natural moment this week to talk with them about loving God. It does not have to be a formal sit-down. It can happen at dinner, in the car, or at bedtime.
God’s Word is too important to forget. Make it a daily part of your life and the lives of those around you.
Ask yourself these questions as you reflect this week:
- Am I loving God with all my heart, soul, and strength, or am I giving Him what is left over?
- What does the faith I model at home actually look like to the people watching me?
- Where can I place God’s Word this week so that I see it and am reminded of it every day?
- What is one natural conversation I can have with a child or someone younger in faith about loving God?