Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

This short passage is considered the central and most important statement of the Jewish faith and is commonly referred to as the Shema Yisrael (Hear Israel, in Hebrew). Both Matthew and Mark record the instance when Jesus was asked which was the most important commandment. The questioners were seeking to trap him saying something that they could use to accuse him. Jesus simply responded by reciting the Shema Yisrael and there was no way they could find a fault with that.

Why is loving God so important? Some would say it is more important to love the people who are part of our daily life. According to Jesus to love our neighbour as ourself is the second most important commandment. This comes from Leviticus 19:18 and is repeated seven times throughout the New Testament.

Dare I unreservedly love the omnipotent judge of all the earth? Nehemiah, Daniel and others call him the great and terrible God. Yet at the same time they say he is merciful to those who love him. The New Testament speaks much of the love of God: “For God so loved the world . . .” “We love him, because he first loved us.” So I approach him, perhaps trembling, perhaps in desperation, and I find his love is real, life-changingly real.

The people around me seem different, more loveable. That’s probably because I am aware, like never before, of how unlovable I am. We are all made in God’s image, and we have all marred that image. If God can love me, then surely he loves all these others, too. And he expects me to love them as much as I love myself.

That’s a very tall order; some people are barely recognizable as being bearers of the image of God. So am I, maybe not all the time, but often enough that sometimes I wonder if God can really love me. Then he reminds me that he does, and because of his love for me I can love others.

The Shema Yisrael must be the foundation, the centre, the motivation of our lives. When things around us seem to be falling apart, God is there, unchanged, unchanging, unchangeable. When loved ones disappoint us, forsake us, God is still there, and always will be. When I fail, God is still there to help me get up and try again.

How else can I make it through life, knowing my life has meaning, purpose and a destination?