Daily Light from the Lighthouse
"The LORD our God, the LORD is one!"
Deuteronomy 6:4
When Jesus was asked which commandment was the greatest, He came back to
the well-known declaration of the Hebrew Shema, "You shall love the
LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your
strength." This great commandment was preceded by the words, "The LORD
our God, the LORD is one!"
Society today has a buzzword that flows through our media, corporate
human resources, athletics, etc. That word is "diversity". It is an
important word because we live in a very diverse world, especially in
the United States. People from all walks of life, socioeconomic
backgrounds, cultures, races, and homes live, work and exist together.
Walk into almost any large or medium sized city and you will see
diversity on its grandest display. You can see it through physical
characteristics, religious backgrounds, societal behaviors, etc. People
have differences in taste when it comes to clothing, food, and habits.
They look different, act different, and even smell different.
Diversity in our day and culture must be understood as normal and
accepted.
However, in all of this diversity there is one thing and one thing only
that remains consistent: there is, always has been, and always will be
ONE God! Throughout the pages of Scripture and the years of history He
has been on display for all to see. From the beginning as we know it He
was the Creator and Giver of life. He declared Himself to be the I AM
to Moses as He led His chosen people out of captivity. As Jehovah (I
AM) He showed Himself to be Shalom (peace), Tsidkenu (righteousness),
Rapha (healer), Rohi, (shepherd), Jireh (provider), and Nissi (banner).
This same God as the fulfillment of prophecy came to this earth in the
form of man (Jesus) to be the Suffering Servant that would take the sins
of the world upon Himself and be the Sacrifice that was needed for sin
to be cleansed. One of His disciples would rightfully declare Him to be
the Messiah. Today we learn of Him as He (the Holy Spirit) teaches us
and convicts us. We also await the day that the clouds will be gathered
at the four winds of the sky and the whole world will watch as He steps
out as King of kings and calls His children to spend eternity with Him.
There may be many people with many differences, but God is the only One
that can truly unite us. Jesus came to draw all men to Himself. He did
not come for a particular race, nation, or people group. He came
because He is not willing that any should perish but that all should
come to repentance. Jesus Christ and He alone is the Hope that this
world desperately needs. We who have been changed by Him must shine the
light of His salvation like a city set on a hill. Let us declare to
every man, woman, and child that there is one God and He loves them!
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