Deuteronomy 6:1–9
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. – Deuteronomy 6:4
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Foochow Methodist Church (FMC) is about to celebrate its 128th anniversary since its founding. All thanks to God’s faithfulness, who has preserved the church to continue to minister and nurture the many who pass through it over the years. Thinking about the generations who has been through FMC, through the founding generations and their struggles, the acquisition of a permanent home, the trauma of the war, the rebuilding of the church until its current situation, certainly FMC has been through a lot, but again all thanks be to God for preserving us despite all the less-than perfect humans who have led and been through her structure.
Deuteronomy is a book written just before Israel was to enter the promised land. The Israelites have been wandering and struggling for 40 years in the wilderness, having endured wars and experienced many periods of ups and downs. God, through Moses, reminds them of the importance of remembering and obeying God’s law after entering the promised land. Deuteronomy 6 reminds Israel to be “careful to obey” and to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. This is a timely reminder to all of us: have I been “careful to obey God”, or have I been living life daily without giving much thought to the matter? How often do I ask myself, “What does God want me to do next?” Also, if I am not careful to obey God, could it be that I do not love God as strongly as the book of Deuteronomy suggests?
The passage continues in vv. 7-9, urging the Israelites to impress these commandments upon their children, with all means, at all times, with all effort. While this is written in the context of a family, I believe it to be applicable to a church setting as well. All believers are part of the family of Christ, at different stages of life and with varying levels of maturity. In this light, we can all play a role in helping each other to be careful to obey God’s commandments. The Chinese proverb 三人行，必有我师, which literally means “in a group of 3 people, at least one can be my teacher”. It emphasises the idea that everyone has something to teach us, regardless of their status or experience. We should not have the attitude that “I am not the best for this” or “I am so young, what do I have to offer?”. Have you not seen a 5-year-old child happily leading their 3-year-old brother or sister in the playground?
Here, of course, the focus needs to be on obeying God’s commandments. Here I am reminded about the warning in Revelation 2, where Jesus gave the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7. The church was then a very active one, characterised by work, perseverance, and a refusal to tolerate evil, as it tested the false apostles and endured all kinds of hardships. Their one fault was that they had lost their first love. Jesus warned that if they did not repent, their lampstand would be removed. Today, Ephesus is in ruins, and the small nearby town of Selcuk is 99% Muslim. A far cry from the time when the church of Ephesus was one of the strongest and biggest churches in Asia Minor.
As FMC prepares to celebrate its 128th anniversary, I wish that it would continue to influence people in Little India and beyond for the next 128 years, assuming Christ’s second coming has not occurred. For this to happen, all of us have an active role to play. We need to think of ourselves first, and then the people around us.
Reflection:
What am I doing to ensure that I am following the urging of Moses in Deuteronomy 6? What or who can I help to ensure that another person comes closer to Jesus or walks closer with him?
Prayer:
Father, I want to thank you for your incredible faithfulness that you have shown to FMC. Thank you for your grace and mercy despite our failings. Please continue to guide FMC in the years to come. Also, please make it known to me my role in this matter. Please help me to see that, in my small way, with your help, I can make a difference to FMC. Help me to be faithful in the task that you have assigned to me and to continue to obey you as I continue through life’s journey. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Click to read
Foochow Methodist Church (FMC) is about to celebrate its 128th anniversary since its founding. All thanks to God’s faithfulness, who has preserved the church to continue to minister and nurture the many who pass through it over the years. Thinking about the generations who has been through FMC, through the founding generations and their struggles, the acquisition of a permanent home, the trauma of the war, the rebuilding of the church until its current situation, certainly FMC has been through a lot, but again all thanks be to God for preserving us despite all the less-than perfect humans who have led and been through her structure.
Deuteronomy is a book written just before Israel was to enter the promised land. The Israelites have been wandering and struggling for 40 years in the wilderness, having endured wars and experienced many periods of ups and downs. God, through Moses, reminds them of the importance of remembering and obeying God’s law after entering the promised land. Deuteronomy 6 reminds Israel to be “careful to obey” and to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. This is a timely reminder to all of us: have I been “careful to obey God”, or have I been living life daily without giving much thought to the matter? How often do I ask myself, “What does God want me to do next?” Also, if I am not careful to obey God, could it be that I do not love God as strongly as the book of Deuteronomy suggests?
The passage continues in vv. 7-9, urging the Israelites to impress these commandments upon their children, with all means, at all times, with all effort. While this is written in the context of a family, I believe it to be applicable to a church setting as well. All believers are part of the family of Christ, at different stages of life and with varying levels of maturity. In this light, we can all play a role in helping each other to be careful to obey God’s commandments. The Chinese proverb 三人行，必有我师, which literally means “in a group of 3 people, at least one can be my teacher”. It emphasises the idea that everyone has something to teach us, regardless of their status or experience. We should not have the attitude that “I am not the best for this” or “I am so young, what do I have to offer?”. Have you not seen a 5-year-old child happily leading their 3-year-old brother or sister in the playground?
Here, of course, the focus needs to be on obeying God’s commandments. Here I am reminded about the warning in Revelation 2, where Jesus gave the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7. The church was then a very active one, characterised by work, perseverance, and a refusal to tolerate evil, as it tested the false apostles and endured all kinds of hardships. Their one fault was that they had lost their first love. Jesus warned that if they did not repent, their lampstand would be removed. Today, Ephesus is in ruins, and the small nearby town of Selcuk is 99% Muslim. A far cry from the time when the church of Ephesus was one of the strongest and biggest churches in Asia Minor.
As FMC prepares to celebrate its 128th anniversary, I wish that it would continue to influence people in Little India and beyond for the next 128 years, assuming Christ’s second coming has not occurred. For this to happen, all of us have an active role to play. We need to think of ourselves first, and then the people around us.
Reflection:
What am I doing to ensure that I am following the urging of Moses in Deuteronomy 6? What or who can I help to ensure that another person comes closer to Jesus or walks closer with him?
Prayer:
Father, I want to thank you for your incredible faithfulness that you have shown to FMC. Thank you for your grace and mercy despite our failings. Please continue to guide FMC in the years to come. Also, please make it known to me my role in this matter. Please help me to see that, in my small way, with your help, I can make a difference to FMC. Help me to be faithful in the task that you have assigned to me and to continue to obey you as I continue through life’s journey. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.