Thought for the day - Monday 1 February 2021

Deuteronomy 6:4-5  ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength’.   During these strange times that we find ourselves in, we have all had to adapt and this has resulted in major changes to our weekly and daily routines.  While it is accepted that people, in general, are resistant to change, we have all been left with no option other than to do things differently.  I used to watch pictures on the tv from China and couldn’t believe all these folks were walking around going about their daily business wearing face masks and now we see the same happening in all our surrounding towns and villages. Some of the changes made have been for the better.  Many are working from home now thus saving the time and cost of getting to and from their workplace.  It makes you wonder why it took a pandemic for this to happen. During this time of change, it’s good to know that there’s some things that don’t change.  Today’s reading comes from the book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament but when Jesus is asked by the Pharisees ‘what is the most important commandment in the law of Moses’ in Matthew 22 (in an attempt to trap him), he quotes today’s reading.  Jesus showed that it was just as important to love God in His time as it was in the time of Moses and it is just as important today as it was over 2000 years ago.  We should endeavour to reflect our love of God in all we say and do and not in a half-hearted way but in a meaningful and sincere way – with all our heart, all our soul and all our strength. Prayer – Heavenly Father, You are so much greater than we could ever imagine.  We thank you for loving us so much that you sent your son that we may be saved by believing in Him.  Help us to love you with all our heart, all our mind, all our soul and all our strength in every aspect of our lives and help us reach out to others that they may come to know and love you too.