The Greatest Commandment
The good news is, we have all the grandchildren with us for four days. The good news…it’s only four days. I think Debbie feels like this is not much of a vacation serving as the “camp cook.” Stephanie is helping out and it takes all four adults to keep tabs on six kids. Actually they have been doing quite well and tomorrow we head to Glenwood Springs and Christian and Bridget come to join us, so reinforcements are on their way. I-70 west remains closed with a rocky slide, so we will have a scenic route to Glenwood Springs.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:4,5 HCSB
Love for God is called the “greatest commandment.” It was not called that by Moses; it is not found in the Old Testament. It is called that by Jesus when asked by a Pharisee which was the greatest commandment. In some ways I wish Jesus would have said, “You must not add anything to what I command you or take anything away from it, so that you may keep the commands of the Lord your God I am giving you.” (Deu. 4:2 HCSB) This is because the Pharisees while sticklers for the law, were flagrant violators of this command. They added so many of their own laws that, their laws made to protect “God’s law” became more important than the original commandments.
Yet Jesus pointed to what was emphasized in the Book of Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy begins and ends with the importance of loving God. When the command is given it shows the extent to which our love for God is to consume our entire being. All that we are, all that is in us, is to reveal our love for God through the way we honor and respect His ways.
As the individual commands are to be remembered and honored, it is love for God that is to be the greatest motivating factor in obedience to all the commandments. Love for God is to be impressed on children in a consistent manner. “Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deu. 6:7 HCSB)
As Moses communicates God’s commands to a new generation, ready to enter the promised land, he repeatedly emphasizes the importance of love for God. It is basic and it is required. When someone asked, “what does God require” Moses says, “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you except to fear the Lord your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul?” (Deu. 10:12 HCSB)
When Moses summarizes God’s law he says, “Therefore, love the Lord your God and always keep His mandate and His statutes, ordinances, and commands.” (Deu. 11:1 HCSB)
Loving God was the key to blessing, victory and security in the promised land. “If you carefully obey my commands I am giving you today, to love the Lord your God and worship Him with all your heart and all your soul, I will provide rain for your land in the proper time, the autumn and spring rains and you will harvest your grain, new wine, and oil.” (Deu. 11:13,14 HCSB)
“…if you carefully observe every one of these commands I am giving you to follow—to love the Lord your God, walk in all His ways, and remain faithful to Him— the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you will drive out nations greater and stronger than you are.” (Deu. 11:22,23 HCSB)
Loving God provides stability in faith and relationship with the Lord. False prophets and deceivers will test God’s love. “…do not listen to that prophet’s words or to that dreamer. For the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul.” (Deu. 13:3 HCSB) If our love for God is strong, we will not be easily shaken in our faith by circumstances, false teaching or other attempts that cause us to “walk away” from our devotion.
As Deuteronomy comes to an end and Moses is about to anoint Joshua as his successor and die, his last words to God’s people are, “…love the Lord your God, obey Him, and remain faithful to Him. For He is your life, and He will prolong your life in the land…” (Deu. 30:20 HCSB)
While Christ has fulfilled and set us free from the law as a means to righteousness with God, what remains is our call to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength.” This command transcends time, because it lies at the heart of our relationship and obedience to the Lord’s ways. No other command is repeated as much and none is more important for our lives.