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Daily Devotionals
Voice of the Lord
Rabbi, which of the mitzvot [commandments] in the Torah is the most important? (Matthew 22:36)
A man asked Messiah for the most important commandment, and for two thousand years we've missed the answer. We think he answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength." Actually, he answered, "Shema Yisra'el, Adonai Eloheynu, Adonai echad" (Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God, the Lord is one). Then he said, "And you are to love Adonai your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your understanding and with all your strength" (Mark 12:29-30). This is the Shema, recited by virtually every Jewish worshiper in every synagogue, every week, throughout the world. The first answer Messiah gave when asked what was the most important command was one word—shema (hear, listen, pay close attention).
We rush around, but the Lord told us to stop and listen. We seem to ignore that. Before we can do great things for God, we have to learn to listen. Stop and listen. He's God. We're not. We need to let him speak to our hearts. When we listen, we truly learn to know him. Then we can really love him and love others.
Take time today to listen to him and know him. He has something to say to you.
...stop rushing around, even to do things for God. I will be still and listen to the Lord.
JC
The Voice of the Lord, Copyright © 1998 by the Lewis and Harriet Lederer Foundation, Inc. Published by Messianic Jewish Publishers, Distributed by Messianic Jewish Resources, www.messianicjewish.net. All rights reserved. Used by permission. No part of this article may be reproduced in print or on the web, or transmitted in any form, without the written permission of the publisher.
