Deuteronomy 6

“When your sons ask you in the future, ‘What is the meaning of the decrees, statutes, and ordinances, which the Lord our God has commanded you?’ tell him, ‘We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out with a strong hand. Before our eyes the Lord inflicted great and devastating signs and wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh and all his household, but He brought us from there in order to lead us in and give us the land that He swore to our fathers. The Lord commanded us to follow all these statutes and to fear the Lord our God for our prosperity always and for our preservation, as it is today. Righteousness will be ours if we are careful to follow every one of these commands before the Lord our God, as He commanded us.” Deuteronomy 6:20-25 (HCSB)

It has been said the most powerful tool of evangelism is the testimony. Skeptics will argue the existence of God, the deity of His Son, the authority of the Bible, etc. The one thing nobody can refute is your experience. Nobody can take away your testimony, combined with the observable change in your life, your “I once was blind, but now I see.”

Deuteronomy 6:20-25 is basically a scripted testimony. It is the predictable conversation between a father and son. This scenario assumes the father is faithfully obeying the Lord, thus prompting the son to ask, “Why?” If you have never had this conversation with your father (or children), I can guarantee there is a breakdown somewhere in Biblical paternal leadership.

I love the innocence of the child’s question. I remember the first time my kids asked why we have a parental block on our TV, and I had to explain that not everyone loves God. My kids have always been in safe, open Christian communities, so we literally have to teach them not to trust everyone.

In today’s passage, the child has known nothing but freedom and God’s blessing. He has to be taught about bondage and slavery. Who better to teach a son than a father? What more believable testimony than from the one who should be most trustworthy?

This testimony is also a reminder that when we share our faith, we should include three elements: Past, Present, and Future.

“I was ONCE in bondage, but God delivered me.” “The Lord commanded us to follow Him for our prosperity and preservation as it is TODAY.” Righteousness WILL BE ours if we follow Messiah (who fulfilled the commandments for us), as we are commanded.”