Over the next few weeks in our Rooted in Christ Study, we’ll be looking at some of the favorite passages from our staff at St. Matthew’s UMC.  These are some of the parts of the Bible to mean to most to our staff:

Today’s reading is Deuteronomy 6: 1-9

This passage is among the most important passages within the Bible and maybe the most important to the Jewish people of Jesus’ day. It remains very important within Judaism today.  It is the Shema (or sometimes the Shema Yisrael).  Hear Oh Israel.  This is the command of the people. Hear Israel, the Lord is One.  Love Him with all that you are.  This passage teaches us several important things – who God is.  What we should do to God (love Him) and what is so important, what we should teach our children.  We should teach our children this truth.  We should show them the way. We should model the faith.  We should live it for our children to know. They should know of God’s goodness and mercy by the visibility of our faith, by how it shapes our lives, by who it makes us to be.

They should ask us questions, why do we do that?  Why do we say that?  Why are we like we are?  Our faith should make us different.  That should prompt questions. And can answer with the truth of this passage.  The Lord is One.  Love Him with all that we are.

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