Shema: The undivided Love

"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one [the only God]! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength [your entire being].”

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 AMP

Let's explore the process

Your mind

Everything starts with your mind

It is the seat of thoughts

It is the laboratory where information (thoughts) are processed and an outcome is produced which passes on to the heart

The sources of information you process in your mind come from the external environment and the suggestions of the devil

Your five senses are your receptors and they transmit information into your mind

Whatever your mind agrees with is what you do

That is why the word of God encourages us to be picky when it comes to our thoughts

“Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.”

Philippians 4:8 TPT

If you discover that your mind is not what it should be, that is the products are against what the word says, you better take time off and cleanse your mind by redirecting your thoughts towards what the word says.

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind

“And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].”

Romans 12:2 AMP

Let new and fresh thoughts enter into your mind

Meditate on the word of God day and night

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful.” Joshua 1:8 AMP

Process the word of God in your mind and the outcome will be the perfect will of God

Heart and mind work closely together because as soon as your mind makes a decision on the information received, it transmits these to your heart where they are stored to be brought out anytime the occasion demands.

We all speak and act according to what is stored in our hearts

A good man out of the abundance of his heart brings forth good

““When virtue is stored within, the hearts of good, upright people will produce good fruit. But when evil is hidden within, those who are evil will produce evil fruit.”

Matthew 12:35 TPT

The process of loving the Lord with your heart

What you fill your mind with

“Fill your thoughts with my words until they penetrate deep into your spirit.

The outcome goes into your core being

Then, as you unwrap my words, they will impart true life and radiant health into the very core of your being.

They become the affections of your heart

So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.”

Proverbs 4:21-23 TPT

So what is the affection of your heart?

When your whole being fully clings to the Lord, you will obey His commandments which include loving your neighbour as yourself.

Our first love must be God then every other thing will follow easily

Jesus says in John 14:15 If you love me you will keep my commandment

If you love God you will store His word in your heart that is you will feed your mind with His words, and your mind will constantly process these words, release the outcome to your heart which will store the word and your actions or output will be doing what God wants

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts].

With all my heart I have sought You, [inquiring of You and longing for You]; Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience].

Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You.”

Psalms 119:9-11 AMP

With your soul

Your soul is the seat of emotions, will and decisions

This is what coordinates your choices in life

Love the Lord with all your soul means choosing God above all else, releasing your will to God that your life will no longer be as you will but as God wills

“Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures.’””

Hebrews 10:7 NLT

“But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.””

Joshua 24:15 NLT

To love God with your soul means to love God with your emotions.

Praising him with your happiness, smile, and gratitude is easy when things are going well. Like when you perceive an answer to prayer or one of life’s good gifts comes your way, but how about when things aren’t going so well? ALL your soul means at ALL times. Even when God seems quiet. Even when he says wait. And even when he says no.

Your soul takes you much farther than your heart can; it takes you to a solid relationship with the living Lord and as a bonus, heaven.

Your might (strength or power)

Your resources, your physical strength, your time, your energy, your career, your position, your defence or what you are ready to defend, your possession

Surrender your night to the Lord, what makes you you, your position, what you are ready to defend

your possession

““I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?” Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.”

Matthew 19:20-22 NLT

Is this not why some people cannot follow God fully?

There is no way you can claim to love someone if you can’t part with your belongings. The test your love for God also includes how valuable your possessions become when you are asked to release it to God.

Abraham biggest and most valuable possession was his only child, he promptly released him to God when he asked for isaac

Loving God with my strength and might is not just memorising the scriptures but bringing them alive by acting upon them

Stepping out on faith and taking action enables me to remember what I learned and it may even help other people. God likes it when I’m led by faith to act.

Yes, loving God with all my strength means stepping out in faith. It means stepping out of my comfort zone. It means stepping out to help someone. Faith without works isn’t worth much. But faith with works can change a piece of the world for the better.

Loving God starts with your thoughts, your mind releases the outcome to your heart, once embedded in your heart it becomes your belief system, your soul acts on your belief system and chooses to release itself to it, it manifests in the physical by what you act on, talk about, give to, promote, are known by and the direction of your life

Outcome

It is imperative to really experience the full and abundant life. After all, in His presence is fullness of joy and in his right hand, there are pleasures forever (Psalm 16:11). By loving him with all my heart, I place myself in this position of joy. Joy is there regardless of my current circumstances. I want that kind of full joy. Don’t you?

Charles Spurgeon puts it like this....

"'With all your heart' means intensely

. 'With all your soul' means sincerely, most lovingly. '

And with all your strength' means with all our energy, with every faculty, with every possibility of our nature."

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God" is explained to mean "Act in such a manner that God will be beloved by all His creatures

to sanctify the name of God and avoid whatever tends to desecrate it

Act like the Israelites

Twice every day the Jew recites the Shema Yisrael, which contains the words: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy might". This verse is understood to encourage us to willingly surrender life and fortune whenever the cause of God demands it, while it at the same time urges us to make God beloved by all his creatures through deeds of kindness,

The summary of it all is seeking the kingdom of God above all else

Prayer

Psalm 84:2

“My soul (my life, my inner self) longs for and greatly desires the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.”

Psalms 84:2 AMP

⁃ Let my life constantly and consistently bring honour to your name

⁃ May I represent you well as your true ambassador in everything I do,

⁃ may I be your hand, feet and mouth to everyone you send me to

Listen to the full sermon below