Writing on the Door Post


Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. – Deuteronomy 11:18-21

I recently read how modern-day Jews still follow this admonition by attaching something called a mezuzah, a small box or scroll shaped container attached to the front door frame containing a small roll of parchment inscribed with a prayer from the Torah called the Sh’ma and one of the names of God, Shaddai. ( “God Almighty is sufficient” )

My wife has also taken this scripture to heart, so it is easy to encounter a verse or an encouragement as you look around our house.

Here is an example over the dining room table (where many chores originate and much homeschooling takes place):

I have to admit that, in the past, I have struggled with scripture posters, framed samplers of Psalms, fish symbols on cars and WWJD wristbands. It always reminded me of the Applebee’s watresses trying to fit in one more cheery button to “prove” they cared deeply about my cullinary happiness. Getting my order right and on time should be proof enough.

But I am learning that this, like so much of my relationship with the Living God, is more about my intent and the condition of my heart than posters and stickers. Yes, wearing a WWJD wristband can be motivated by a spirit of pride, the desire to look and act like the cool Christians at church, but… BUT, it can motivated but the humbling realization that sometime we need daily, even moment-to-moment, reminders to put on the mind of Christ.

Putting up scripture posters or cross-stitch samplers of Psalms could be a way to impress your church friends with how holy your home-life is, OR, it could be an attempt to fix God’s word in your heart and mind and in the hearts and minds of your family.

I put a fish symbol on the back of my VW Bug, not to show off my Jesus chic, but to remind me to drive courteously and with tolerance of others varied driving skills. It’s far less likely I’ll communicated to the driving-challenged with creative sign-language if I am reminded of whom I serve, but, more to the point, if I know the other drivers know whom I serve.

So, scribble a verse or two on the door post, the window frame, the refrigerator. Hang a poster with meaningful verse and a sunset background. But don’t forget to read them, fix them in your heart, let His Word encourage, admonish, convict, and direct you.

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6 responses to “Writing on the Door Post”

  1. Not to be a downer or anything but, I would be careful to balance out what verses you put up. The Scriptures are meant to be taken together, I feel. The home I grew up in had this verse on a barn beam: ‘Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.’
    Well, after 20-odd years of staring at this verse, my dad decided that what *his* heart desired was a new family and a new (much, much younger wife) and that the Lord was giving it to him.

    Remember to keep it all in balance.

    Good article, tho :)

  2. Great post. We need to be reminding ourselves of whom we serve and of the verses of Scripture. Although that first comment poses a sad example of someone getting away from the Lord, it only reminds us how important it is to stay close to God! Great post.

  3. Sarah, Thanks for that tip. I wish men would realise that when they leave their wives for another woman how much pain they are causing their children who are their creation. Not to mention their wives. Fortunately God never leaves us or forsakes us.

  4. […] get a lot of comments on my blog, so it’s encouraging when I do. On one of my previous posts, Writing on the Door Post, a slow trickle a comments has broken my heart and got my hackles up a bit, as well. While the blog […]

  5. When I go through the door the Mezuzah reminds me what should be my heart in this world.

    Sometimes I fail but it is a persistent reminder.

    A few Bible verses around are great. It is up to me. that it not be show.

    Thank you for your comments

  6. Having daily reminders are the essence of His nature in us. His word are the filters that develops discernment leading to sound judgement. “Narrow is the way and narrow is the gate….” Yes, Messiah’s love awaken us from sleep/death, but He wants us to mature in stature. Mustard seed principles are all that is need. We need to try to love in the capacity that the world/we doesn’t/didn’t know. Amen

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