August 30, 2021 --Deuteronomy 6:4-9 -- Commanded Obedience

People loved by the Father, in the power of the Spirit: sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ESV

Dear family in Christ, verses 4 and 5 of our reading today are the “Shema” (or Sh’ma). It is where I get the name for my ministry “Sh’ma Christian Ministries”. This ministry hosts my regular devotions, is a platform for some of my sermons, and raises money for a cause you can read about. The word “sh’ma” means — “hear” or “listen” and carries the sense of hear and obey, put it into practice.

To love God with all we have and all we are and love our neighbour as we love ourselves, this is the summary of the law which we are called to obey each and every day. Based on verse 8, devout Jewish men will bind a leather strap to their hand and arm to remind them not to sin, but instead to obey God, using their hand for good. Recently I noticed a younger man, who I have the privilege of mentoring, had a strange tattoo on the back of his hand. I asked him about it. He smiled wryly and noted it is the hazard symbol. You know, like you’d see on a warning label. He put it on the back of his dominant hand to remind him not to go back to drugs. He had decided his hand needs to be observed doing what is right and good. What an extreme illustration of this principle, to make sure his hand is not doing something outside of or contrary to the Law of God.

I encourage you this day, consider what obvious signs or symbols can you put around you, so that you will be reminded to obey the law of God. The purpose of this encouragement is not to earn God’s favour, but to remind you, He has already rescued you in Jesus Christ. The Spirit of God will take the Word planted in your heart to guard you in holiness. You and I are commanded then to act in accordance with the knowledge we have, the knowledge to act for good and not evil. Let your life be pleasing to God.

Lord our God, You are forever faithful to Your promises! Thank You, Father, for receiving us as Your children because of the accomplished work of Christ, our Savior. By Your Spirit’s presence in us, give us wisdom and the necessary will and motivation to hear and obey all You call us to do. Help us, O God, to see Your Fatherly goodness, which surrounds us all, and enable us to respond to such goodness in faith to Jesus Christ, Who is our Chief Teacher, Eternal King, and only High Priest. Give us strength to fight sin and endure trials. When Christ returns, let us all celebrate with all the people of God, Your greatness and goodness forever and ever in the joy of the new creation. Amen.

(Prayer is adapted from the Christian Reformed Church post baptism prayer)

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