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This passage is very practical, telling the Israelites how not to forget God.

It's easy to put up walls and shut people out and even to hold onto hurt or malice. It goes to the fabric of who we are: our intellect and emotions! God wants us to know him with both intellect and emotions, and not keep him out. He wants to be our doorpost and gate, to trust him with everything.

The second part of this practical passage is that we use our hands as tools of faith in him in trust and to show the world his love by displaying the fruits of his spirit on the forehead of our lives.

Learn to let go of the worldly issues that blight the intellect and emotions.

Learn to break down the walls that keep us from God and each other.

Hurt is powerful, but God is more powerful. Open your heart and mind to understanding and accepting who God is and his plan for our lives, and the reconciliation of all of creation.

Reconciling God, you want to be knitted into the fabric of our lives and yet, so often we fail to let you.  So often we build the walls preventing you from entering our hearts, souls and minds and yet you show how complete we are in you. Break down the hardness of our hearts and intellect and teach us to trust you in all aspects of our lives and forgive others, as you forgive us.

Today’s contributor is Mary Walsh, a solicitor and editor with an MA in Biblical and Pastoral Theology, and who co-leads a church in Radcliffe, Manchester.