One
Read Deuteronomy 6:1-9.
One.
One is the loneliest number. At least according to songwriter Harry Nilsson.
No one wants just one french fry, or one sip, or one time around. The place I go to get my hair cut will wash your hair twice...for a small extra charge. Because no one wants just one (so they say). The potato chip company proclaims, "You can't eat just one." (They're right.) It's hard to stop at just one.
We don't even think one is enough with God. We boldly proclaim, "With me and God, there's nothing we can't do!" Actually, I think one of those is unnecessary, because, as the Hebrews strongly believed, when it comes to God, one is enough.
The shema (the word means "hear") is the basic belief of Israel. It underlies every other doctrine, belief and action. It is repeated daily by faithful Jews: "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). When Jesus was asked what was the most important of all the laws, he responds with the second half of this statement he must have heard first at Mary's knee. Love the Lord your God with everything you are...because he is one.
It's not just a statement that there is only one true God (though it is certainly that). It's also a statement of sufficiency. God is enough. God is whole, within himself. He needs no one else. He is complete, more than adequate.
And here's the amazing implication: God doesn't even need us. He is one. He is sufficient, all by himself. But here's the equally amazing truth: he doesn't need us, but he wants us. He created us not out of some sort of need or desire to be complete. He created us out of love, just because he wanted to. And he came to earth in the form of a baby, grew up, and gave his life to save us from our sin not because he had to or because he needed us—but because he loves us and wants to be with us. That's pretty amazing, considering how many times we turn away from him. He still loves us, still wants to be with us, still offered (and offers) his life to save us.
One. God is one. And still he loves you and me. Amazing!
One.
One is the loneliest number. At least according to songwriter Harry Nilsson.
No one wants just one french fry, or one sip, or one time around. The place I go to get my hair cut will wash your hair twice...for a small extra charge. Because no one wants just one (so they say). The potato chip company proclaims, "You can't eat just one." (They're right.) It's hard to stop at just one.
We don't even think one is enough with God. We boldly proclaim, "With me and God, there's nothing we can't do!" Actually, I think one of those is unnecessary, because, as the Hebrews strongly believed, when it comes to God, one is enough.
The shema (the word means "hear") is the basic belief of Israel. It underlies every other doctrine, belief and action. It is repeated daily by faithful Jews: "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). When Jesus was asked what was the most important of all the laws, he responds with the second half of this statement he must have heard first at Mary's knee. Love the Lord your God with everything you are...because he is one.
It's not just a statement that there is only one true God (though it is certainly that). It's also a statement of sufficiency. God is enough. God is whole, within himself. He needs no one else. He is complete, more than adequate.
And here's the amazing implication: God doesn't even need us. He is one. He is sufficient, all by himself. But here's the equally amazing truth: he doesn't need us, but he wants us. He created us not out of some sort of need or desire to be complete. He created us out of love, just because he wanted to. And he came to earth in the form of a baby, grew up, and gave his life to save us from our sin not because he had to or because he needed us—but because he loves us and wants to be with us. That's pretty amazing, considering how many times we turn away from him. He still loves us, still wants to be with us, still offered (and offers) his life to save us.
One. God is one. And still he loves you and me. Amazing!
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