This is our third week studying the powerful Old Testament prayer called “The Shema.” It’s a prayer faithfully recited by Jewish believers every morning and evening for centuries. It’s a prayer that declares one’s devotion to God, and at the same time demonstrates the character of God and shows us how to respond to him. So each week we’re highlighting a specific word in the prayer. Today, that word is “love” (“ahava”).
When we typically think of the word “love”, the first thing that comes to mind might be an affection or feeling. In our culture, love is an emotion that gets turned on and off. It can be manipulated by people or circumstances. But the word “love” in Hebrew is different. The word is “ahava”. It’s not just a feeling or emotion. It’s also deeply connected with action. The root of the word in Hebrew is “to give”, literally to give oneself. So this kind of love is not just something that you feel, it is something that you give or you do.
Last week, we saw that the Lord our God is the one true God. When we look deeply at his nature and attributes, not only is he eternal and supreme:
Throughout the Bible, God shows us what genuine love is like. This is not just how his love is explained, but we also see God’s love on display, seen in: his covenant relationship with his people, his constant protection and guidance for them, his heart of forgiveness. God didn’t love the Israelites because they earned it. His love and affection for them is genuine, but it originates from who he is, not who they are. It’s who God has always been, which means his love never changes.
Considering that the word “ahava” means “to give”, God eternally gives of himself to others. His love is not just a sentiment but is central to his activity.
God says, “Here’s why I rescued your ancestors from slavery. Because I loved them. Here’s why I have blessed you. Because I love you.”
Back to what we read in the Shema: because God loves us, we can love as well.
Because you and I are created in God’s image, we’re like him. If God is love, then we can love in a way that reflects God’s love. It won’t be perfect, but it will reflect God. So let me put it like this: we are CALLED to love God because he is the one true God. We are ABLE to love God - and others - because God made us to reflect him.
Remember, this isn’t just about the emotional side of knowing God. It’s not just what you feel from being in relationship with him…
Remember the saying: actions speak louder than words? That applies to our definition of love. Telling someone you love them is sweet, but it means nothing if its just words. Whether or not you actually love that person is proved by your behavior toward them. The same thing applies to our love for God. We can love with affection, with passion, with warm feelings toward him. Worship helps cultivate and express that. But if we love God like it says in the Shema, we put our love for God into...
