Hello leaders and hosts! Welcome to this week's Friday 5! The SHEMA PRAYER.

There is a very popular prayer called the SHEMA prayer that originated from ancient Israel. The prayer comes from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 came to be known as the SHEMA (because that is the first word of the prayer. Listen or SHEMA O Israel!) The SHEMA was said morning and night by devoted Israelites. Every single day. These would be the first words on your mouth and the first thought on your mind. Each night these would be the last words on your mouth and last thoughts on your mind.

Before the Israelites entered the promised land Moses gave this commandment to the people:

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 “(SHEMA) Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Did you know that the word Hebrew word SHEMA means not only “to listen” but also “to do” or “to obey”

Fast forward to the time of Jesus.

In Mark 12 we see one of the teachers of the law asking Jesus which is the most important commandment of all!

Mark 12:29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

This teacher basically asked….if I get nothing else in life...what is the most important thing I should do? Jesus responds - Love God and Love People.

Jesus responded with the very popular well known SHEMA prayer! Many would have known and been in agreement and likely saying under their breath in unison with Jesus the SHEMA prayer! But then he goes on to speak of the second commandment...showing us how equally important this is also!

Did you know that Jesus gave us a summary of the whole bible! In Matthew 22:40 He said everything could be wrapped up in “loving God and loving others.” Man, I love Jesus! I over-complicate things all the time. And Jesus says in this passage...I’m going to help you out!

Now where it gets even more fun is when we start talking about the PRACTICAL APPLICATION. That we each have a unique God assignment placed on our life. Using our specific giftings and talents we can take steps toward fulfilling our God assignment for that season.

If an outsider was to look at my life could they sum up everything I do in this? “That I love God and that I love people?”

This has really challenged me this week to take the words of Jesus seriously and reflect the heart of the father to a world that is in desperate need of his love!

Thanks for joining today’s Friday 5! Tune in next week as we dive into another story from the Bible that gives us practical application to helping others move one step forward!

If you want to dive a little deeper into the Hebrew word SHEMA click here to check out this short fun video!