Deuteronomy 6:5 is known as the Shema, taken from the first word “hear” in Hebrew.
Modern Jews consider the recital of the Shema both evening and morning to be one of
their most sacred duties. It was cited by Jesus as the “greatest commandment in
the Law.”
“Hear,
O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is
one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
A lawyer came to Jesus asking in effect, “what is the greatest priority of the law
of the commandments?”
The heart loves what it treasures. When we seek and discover
a great treasure, love (the result of our affections,) follows. The treasure
comes first, and the heart comes second. God is our ONE.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a
field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then, in his joy, went and
sold all he had and bought that field.” Matthew 13:44
The mind (soul) is the seat of our will and purpose, the vitality of our life and the
motivating power that strengthens our will. To love God with all of our mind
and understanding, is to make loving Him our passionate pursuit. God is our ONE.
Passion comes from God; (we
love Him because He first loved us.) Until we experience the reality of His saving
love, we can’t experience passion for Him. Salvation is God’s work in our
lives, apart from anything we do.
Loving God with all our strength,
is to commit our bodies, talents, finances, and belongings to Him through stewardship,
sacrifice and service. The strength of our love for God activates our response
to Him. God is our ONE.
A passionless lover is a
contradiction in terms. What is the evidence
in our lives of our passionate love for God?
Perhaps it is a step beyond loving God, (to love our neighbor as ourselves.)
No comments:
Post a Comment