All In. A Meditation on the Shema, I’m all Ears!

As I previously shared, every year, I have a watchword. It’s a process for this word to come to me but suffice it to say, it comes by prayer, meditation, and reflection. My word for 2022 is “new.” It has already been realized in these short weeks as I settle into a new way of life with both of us retired, settling into a new church, and finding a new routine. Then, of course, given the pandemic experience’s landscape, we all struggle to find some concept of the new normal. For me, God knew it was the right time in my journey to reflect on these scriptures from the Old Testament and gain a new perspective on living the renewed life that Christ offers us.

First, to approach the benefits of this meditation, I had to quiet myself. I don’t just mean turning off the noise but coming away inwardly and still myself. The world is a cacophony competing for first place in my attention. Everything must be silenced from both the thrill and drama of relationships, the inner voice of ambition and distraction, and the cajoling call of the world’s flattery and insult. I must come away from both leisure and productivity and be willing to attune myself to the intimacy of the initiating communicating heart of God. As my Tennessee Mamaw used to say… I need to hush.

Likewise, I need to really examine with the eyesight of the Spirit what my definition of hearing is. This is important as mostly I know the difference between passive and active listening, but the words of Jesus go even deeper than this in the New Testament. On six different occasions, Jesus proclaimed:” Let him who has ears, let him hear.” This is an invitation to come before God, seek with all of my physical, emotional, and spiritual listening capacities, and open myself to allow the truth of His words to penetrate my heart. This is the same Spirit intended in the Shema (pronounced Sha mah) in Deuteronomy. It is the watchword for the faithful, and for the Jewish, it is the foundational prayer offered 3 x daily to affirm the critical principle that there is only one God. It is based on 3 paragraphs, but today I’m focusing on the first part and the importance of reminding myself there is only one God. Of course, I believe in my heart that this is true, but aligning my energies and commitments to this can challenge my loyalty to God.

How does this happen in my life? I begin falling in love and allowing my affections for temporary stuff around me(what I like to call little gods) to crowd out my love for God. Yep. That’s it! Plain and simple. When I begin to love something, it begins to occupy my thoughts and take up my time. I will start to invest more and more into whatever has captured my affections until pretty soon it has grown into a passion. I have known this to happen to all kinds of folks with all kinds of hobbies that pretty soon, whatever their passion becomes a life statement about who they are. This doesn’t mean that God does not want us to be the best at what we apply ourselves to, but it must be kept in balance in light of what is healthy priorities for growing in our personal relationship with a personal God. Hobbies, relationships, even service to others or ministry can become idols in my life that will rival what rightfully belongs to the Lord. This isn’t legalism, it is the truth of what deeply lies in the heart of my relationship with God. His love and passion for me is so great, He, Himself, proclaims to be a jealous God. Not out of selfishness but out of His great overwhelming love for me. He wants to spend time with me. He is delighted with me, and He says this in the scriptures (Psalm 18:19 He wants to be my one and only. I tell folks sometimes in sharing my faith that God doesn’t date, He likes marriage. He is an all in God, and He wants the same from me.

To affirm that there is only one true God will present conflict to the all-inclusive, situationally- a truthful culture I find myself in. The world will often say this is belief is spiritual arrogance or narrow-mindedness. It will accuse me of leaving others out who may serve many Gods or serve no God except themselves. But I accept that my commitment to the one true God and His word will challenge the faithless or unfaithful, but as one has said, “my dog is not in that fight.” God, by His own power, declares Himself to be the one true God, and neither my affirmation nor denial of that truth makes it any more or less true. He is God, was God, will always be God, and the scriptures promise that ultimately, the world will see this and confess this truth one day. (Romans 14:11) However, as a follower of Christ who has answered His call to discipleship, He promises blessing and reward for my loyalty and faithfulness to Him.

So, as I consider the call ” Hear O Israel, “I understand that without my acknowledgment that there is only true God, I will never hear anything of value. Oh, I might gain knowledge or information; I may even be temporarily enlightened. Still, as a follower of Christ, if I do not attune myself solely to Him, I won’t be able to hear Him and the beautiful words of life He offers me. Words that bring life to bring hope bring comfort and arrest fear, words that direct and guide. Instead, I will always be confused. I will face insecurity and indecisiveness. I will face more failure miss out on joy and intimacy simply because I can’t hear Him over the roar of all the other voices I give credence to. I will especially miss those times when He reminds me how much He loves me.

Good morning Lord, Help me shut out the noise of everyone and everything that tries to speak over you or before you. Teach me to be cautious about what I listen to. Help me to hear you, God.

Next time, come back to the vineyard where the 5 o’clock worker meditates on true love.