Sometimes it is important to stop and reflect upon what we are learning.  So as I reflected upon this topic of The Great Command, Jesus’ first three words jumped at me.  Let’s stop and look at the very first punctuation in Jesus’ response!  The passage from Mark reads:

“One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, ‘What commandment is the foremost of all?’  Jesus answered, ‘The foremost is, “HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD YOUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.” And the second is this, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”  There is no other commandment greater than these’” (Mark 12:28-31, NASB).

Did you happen to catch what was said in those three words following “The foremost is?”  An exclamation point follows the words, “HEAR, O ISRAEL!”  Though this statement is used to bring attention to the listener that it is necessary to understand what is going to come, I can’t help but stop here for a moment and just look at the practicality of the importance of these words by themselves.  Jesus is saying that the most important is for the listener to “hear” what is coming from the mouth of the Teacher.

The Greek word used in this passage is akouo, which is a verb that is commonly translated to mean; “to hear, listen, comprehend by hearing” (Strong’s 191).  The understanding of what is heard is of most importance as this word is figuratively used “to hear God’s voice which prompts Him to birth faith within” (Strong’s 191).  Our faith is built through hearing and understanding what is said by Jesus.  Therefore, I cannot stress just how important it is to hear the voice of Jesus.

So I must return to ask you one of the most important questions, how is your prayer life?  We are quick to say that we need to pray by talking to God, but I ask are you earnestly setting aside time to listen for the voice of God?  I am not referring to doing devotions, even though it is important to have a devotional life.  I am talking about going the extra mile in setting aside time without a predetermined reading or passage, where you just sit in solitude with God and your Bible (and maybe a pad and pen to record what you are hearing).  In this, we must understand that the word from God we hear in prayer shall always be in alignment to the written word of God!  If it is not in alignment, then it is not the voice of God that we are hearing!

Our desperation to hear and understand the voice of God is what brings us into obedience to the remainder of The Great Command.  Our hearing of His voice is what brings us into what love really is.  How about we focus just on hearing His voice, from both the written word and in prayer!

I desire to live a Faith-Full life, in the fullness of His love.