THE CRUCIAL QUESTION
Chad Sloan
Today’s Scripture: Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”’ Mark 12:29, ESV
Theme: Loving God correctly starts with recognizing Him.
HEAR, O ISRAEL
If you ask almost anyone, “What do you think is life’s most important question?” most people would say categorically that it is career-related, purpose-related, or love and marriage related. But I think that the most important question in anyone’s life is, “What do I do with Jesus”? Was He a myth, a legend, or the True Savior? If He is, in fact, the Savior of the world, then what should my response to Him be?
If Jesus is indeed the Savior, my response should be to accept Him and His authority in my life. Yet, understanding and accepting Jesus as the Savior means we must first recognize who He is.
The Great Shema is the beginning of an ancient Jewish prayer. This prayer (which is also Scripture) declares that although the original audience lived in a culture of people worshiping many other gods, our God is not only the one they should worship, but the only God. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4, ESV).
Through this prayer, they recognize and confess that God is the top priority in their lives. They start this prayer with the word “Hear,” which in the Hebrew means “to hear.” “To hear” is a verb and becomes actionable. In other words, hearing and doing should be the same thing.
I believe that in our culture today there are many other things people worship, recognize, and declare to be the top priority in their lives. Careers, money, lust, politics, addictions, popularity, and acceptance are just a few of the things we recognize as priorities in our lives and for our culture.
#1 PRIORITY
However; once you’ve answered the question of who Jesus is, then beginning to follow Him means that you have also decided to recognize Jesus as your main priority, the one God, and the one Leader of your life. It is then that you can start to hear Him in a way that turns listening into actions. It is then that your life changes. Your mindset becomes one of hearing and doing the Word of God. This affects your priorities, your focus, and eventually leads to your purpose.
Make It Personal: Obviously, we can all get distracted from moment-by-moment hearing and doing the will of God. We so easily get pulled off course because we are human. But let’s recognize and remember this year that Jesus is the One True God, our one focus and one priority. Let’s live purposeful lives this year, with a mindset of hearing from Jesus each day through His Word and prayer!
Pray: God, I believe You are the one true God, and that Jesus is the Savior of the world. Help me to not only believe this but to also put my belief into action. Help me to listen, obey, and be willing to make You a priority in my life. Let me become sensitive to Your voice. Help me to desire You more than all else. Create in me a new heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Amen.
Read: Deuteronomy 6:4-9; John 17:20-23; Matthew 6:33; Psalm 27:4
Weekly Memory Verse: “Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”’” Mark 12:29-30, ESV