Roots of Faith

I have encouraged the members of Roots of Faith Congregation to recite the Shema twice daily.  The Shema is the foundation of Biblical Faith and is contained in three sections of text from the Torah (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Deuteronomy 11:13-21 and Numbers 15:37-41)..  I have a couple of articles on my web site on these important texts. We read this aloud every Sabbath in synagogue before we do the weekly Torah and Prophets reading.

I recently did a study on a phrase found within Deuteronomy 6 and Deuteronomy 11.  In both of these passages we are told to do something with all of our heart and all of our soul.  This led me to look for other things that we should do with all of our heart and all of our soul.

That the Biblical writers were inspired to use these strong words should make us take note.  Check out what the bible says that we should do with all of our being.

1. Seek the LORD (Deuteronomy 4:29)
2. Put the words of the LORD in your Heart and soul, bind them as a sign on your hand and fix them as an emblem on your forehead, etc (Deuteronomy 11:18ff)
3. Love The LORD your God (Deuteronomy 13:3; 6:5; 30:6) – This in connection with the command to circumsise your heart and the heart of your descendants – See Deuteronomy 30:6)
4. Return to God / Repent (I Kings 8:48; 2 Chronicles 6:38; Deuteronomy 30:2)
5. Serve the LORD your God (Deuteronomy 10:12)
6. Observe the statutes and ordinances – Guard and do them (Deuteronomy 26:16)

It is also interesting that the Bible mentions one thing that God Himself will do with all of His heart and all of His soul.

Jeremiah 32:41 I will rejoice over them in doing good to them, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness with all my heart and all my soul.

Take some time to reflect on these things that we should do with all of our heart and all of our soul.  They are rarely emphasized by Bible teachers today, and yet they represent the very essence of what Biblical Faith is all about.