[Membersandfriends] Wednesday, August 04, 2004

Tue Aug 3 22:01:57 PDT 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Wednesday, August 04, 2004

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Words of Comfort

The Upper Room offers Words of Comfort, daily words of comfort, hope, and encouragement, along with links to other resources that may be helpful during times of personal or corporate crisis. 
http://www.upperroom.org/comfort/
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A FAMILY HERITAGE
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Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (NRSV)

Now this is the commandment--the statutes and the ordinances--that the LORD your God charged me to teach you to observe in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy, so that you and your children and your children's children may fear the LORD your God all the days of your life, and keep all his decrees and his commandments that I am commanding you, so that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe them diligently, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

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Recite [God's commandments] to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.
- Deuteronomy 6:7 (NRSV)
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THREE generations of competitive javelin throwers live on my street -- a grandfather, his son, and his grandson.  They have set records, won awards, and received local and national recognition for their mastery of the sport.

This family tradition of athletic excellence did not happen by chance.  Hours of training and practice have been invested throughout the years, each generation passing down the knowledge and love of the sport to the next.

Scripture tells us to approach sharing our spiritual heritage with our children and grandchildren with this same diligence.  We are commanded to teach God's words to the next generation, taking every opportunity to share the truth with those who follow after us.

My neighbors know that if their athletic achievement is to continue through the generations of their family, it must be faithfully taught and practiced.  Should we do any less in passing on to others the spiritual truths God has entrusted to us?

Prayer:  Help us, loving God, not to leave to chance the spiritual growth of those near us.  Help us faithfully teach the truths of your kingdom.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Where can I teach God's truth as I interact with others today?

-- Linda M. Wall (Oregon, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: Athletes

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RELATED READING ...

Feeling distracted? David Griebner's THE CARPENTER AND THE UNBUILDER is a book of modern-day parables about the spiritual journey. Griebner shows some of the ways in which we are distracted and the ways in which we continue the journey of faith.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=12507

PLEASE SHARE THIS MINISTRY with a friend. Invite them to sign up for the free E-Mail Devotional by visiting: http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/email/.

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The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.