The Shema is a Jewish prayer that serves as a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services. Its first verse encapsulates the monotheistic essence of Judaism: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the LORD is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4) Observant Jews consider the Shema to be the most important part of their daily prayers in Judaism, and its twice-daily recitation as a mitzvah (or religious commandment). Also, it is traditional for Jews to say the Shema as their last words of the day, and for parents to teach their children to say it before they go to sleep at night.
Today, during my Bible reading during “coffee with the Lord” I became aware that Apostle Paul, a Christian Jew, expanded the Shema to explicitly include Jesus Christ, the Messiah… “For us there is “One God, the Father, from Whom are all things and for Whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things and through Whom we exist!” (From 1 Corinthians 8:6)
I have to tell you, as a Gentile Christian who loves and worships Father God and Jesus Christ, His Son and my Savior, I rejoiced at Paul’s expansion of the Shema to include Jesus, the Christ! Praise God! Believe me, as a Christian I will use Paul’s inspired words in worship!
Coffee With The Lord 