I DON'T, but I DO...

In my time with the Lord, I have been studying through the life of Christ as He journeyed through this Earth. I am learning so much about His life, the Jewish culture and why He did the things that He did. Having been to Israel twice (lots of posts here in April 2008), I have walked where He walked and seen the traditions/culture in action and KNOW that for Jews, Jesus permeated EVERYTHING they did. Judaism was not just a label to identify where they went to church, but it was a way of life for them that permeated every part of their life. Moses told the Israelites in Deuteronomy 6:4-9...

"⁴ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. ^{a]" style="line-height: 0.5em; ">[a]} ⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ⁷Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

And I am sure that is exactly what the Israelites did...literally. Although because Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice I DON'T think we are required to follow the law anymore, I DO believe that Jesus still requires this of us, just not as literally as He meant here. I DO think He wants us to love Him with everything we have, everything we do and everything we are. I DO think He wants us to bind them on our hearts, impress them on our children, and talk about Him all throughout the day. I DON'T think He wants us to wear Bible verses on our foreheads but figuratively, I DO think He means that when people talk to us, they should see Jesus all over our countenance and our actions because we have been with Him. I DON'T think He requires that we write them on the doorframes of our house and our gate, but I DO think He means that His presence should permeate every room in our home. Although I might take that literally because I like the idea....

However, I have been challenged in this. I desire to please Him and love Him with everything I am.

I DON'T believe that you should take my word for it. I DO believe He can speak through His word to you too. Give Him a try...