This post first appeared in August of 2012 as a devotional from Barclay Press.
“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 strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
This passage of Scripture is called the Shema and is part of a prayer said by Jews twice a day. “Shema” is Hebrew and means “to hear, listen, and obey.” It is the first word of this passage. The Shema is precious to the Jews much as John 3:16 is to Christians.
And there is a commandment that comes out of this prayer: love God and help others discover his love! This commandment is spoken to the community, Israel, and to the individual.
It reminds me of the phrase “It takes a village to raise a child.” We all have a role to play in our community, and it should encompass every part of our life—as we walk and as we sit, as we are awake and as we are asleep, even as we dream. The commandment determines how we think and how we talk. Our lives reflect and revolve around our love for God.
Brother Lawrence was a man who fulfilled his mundane daily duty of washing dishes in a monastery kitchen while reflecting on God’s love. In our lives there should not be a separation of spiritual life and work life—or school life, sports life, or home life. It is all connected. Spiritual life should be connected with every aspect of our daily coming and goings. Our spiritual life should dictate how we conduct business as well as how we raise our families.
Pray that all aspects of your life will be given to God and that you will be able to listen, hear, and obey when you hear his voice
-Pastor Rick Ellis
Pastor at Friends Community Church