There is Only One True God

 “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.”- Deuteronomy 6:4-5 

Our text for today is known as the Shema (shuh ma’) or ‘The Great Commandment’, which was recited twice daily by observant Jews, especially Jewish men, to affirm their faith. The Lord cannot be known or acknowledged in many forms like the Canaanite Baals. There is only one Lord, and he alone is God, and they have entered into a covenant-treaty with him. Having said this, the Lord is not just God for Israel; he is God for all ^{(Zechariah 14:9)}. This is the principle of monotheism. The Lord is one of a kind, absolutely unique ^{(Isaiah 44:8; 45:6)}. This is in contrast to polytheism or the belief in many gods, which was prevalent in the ancient world. Our Judeo-Christian beliefs acknowledge only one who “was and is and is to come”. ^{(Revelation 4:8)}

            Our love for God isn’t supposed to be reduced to a ‘feeling’ or a ‘sentiment’, but rather our love for God should be such that it commands our entire personality. Our love for God must be stronger than our love for any material or physical thing. We must love God more than our spouses and children. We must love God even more than we love ourselves. We’ll not be shortchanged in this, for God gives willingly and liberally to those who belong to Him. Have you been focusing more on yourself and your own needs than God and all those around you who are in need? Are you afraid to trust God with your whole life? God will not let you down.

            Since we are living under the umbrella of grace, we are no longer bound by the Law. Christ’s death ushered that in. God is a jealous God … one who shares His glory with no one. So even though we are not under the Mosaic Law our lives should reflect God’s presence as we are living according to the Law by following his living statutes. In other words, if we live for God, we will find ourselves living out the Law in our daily lives anyway, without even deliberately trying. So, take our text to heart and live for all your worth, which is an awful lot due to the shed blood. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries   

Resources: The Orthodox Study Bible & The Biblical Theology Study Bible