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- Oct 26, 2007
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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 KJV
One day during Jesus’ earthly ministry, a Jewish religious authority asked Him a very important question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus’ response was a word-for-word quote of today’s scripture passage, and it still applies to us today: “thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38).
This commandment is the first and greatest for one simple reason: if you love God with everything that is within you, obedience will be the natural result. If you love God, you’ll have no other gods beside Him. If you love God, you won’t engage in idolatry. If you love God, you’ll make sure you never misuse His name. If you love God…well, you get the picture.
Jesus once said to His followers, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). Love is at the center of your relationship with God—His love for you, which motivated Him to willingly go to the cross, and your love for Him, which motivates you to willingly and joyfully do everything He calls you to do.
Prayer: Lord, help me to love You with everything I am and everything I have.
One day during Jesus’ earthly ministry, a Jewish religious authority asked Him a very important question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus’ response was a word-for-word quote of today’s scripture passage, and it still applies to us today: “thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38).
This commandment is the first and greatest for one simple reason: if you love God with everything that is within you, obedience will be the natural result. If you love God, you’ll have no other gods beside Him. If you love God, you won’t engage in idolatry. If you love God, you’ll make sure you never misuse His name. If you love God…well, you get the picture.
Jesus once said to His followers, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). Love is at the center of your relationship with God—His love for you, which motivated Him to willingly go to the cross, and your love for Him, which motivates you to willingly and joyfully do everything He calls you to do.
Prayer: Lord, help me to love You with everything I am and everything I have.
