The What and The Why
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:4-7 ESV
As Moses prepares the “promise land generation” for their future He not only reinforces the law they are to follow, but why they are to follow these commands. These verses introduces what we call the “greatest commandment.” It is the greatest because it is what provides the motivation for following the ways of God.
Before this time the law was communicated from the context of the “fear of the Lord.” God’s people were called to follow the One who had delivered them, rescued them, provided for them and had been faithful to them. Now the context of obeying as an expression of love for God is pointed out.
My friend Jeff Lucas comments, “I’m not in love with God, but I love God.” It is not some romanticized relationship, it is one based on action and commitment. That is actually at the heart of love. I Corinthians 13, the well-known chapter on love, does not refer to any feelings, it simply puts forward what love does and what love does not do. Jesus told His disciples, “If you love me, you will obey my commands.” (John 14:15)
The importance of loving God is to be passed from generation to generation. The dynamic described as one where faith building lessons are to take place in the course of a day, in the course of a life. “…when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” There can be “special” times, but any time there is an opportunity to instruct and motivate love for God is special.
Loving God, obeying His ways would be the key to securing their future and laying hold of the promises of God. “…you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers…” (Deuteronomy 6:18 ESV)
When children ask about the laws of God, it would be important for them to understand that all they have and all that they are, is from the Lord. Without the Lord, they would be slaves and possessors of nothing. Because of the Lord they are free and have lands, crops and possessions. In addition it is what preserved them as a “righteous” people. A special or set apart people. They were instructed to tell their children,
“…the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. And it will be righteousness for us…” (Deuteronomy 6:24-25 ESV)
Prayer for today… Lord, we see the greatest commandment is for all time. It is to be at the heart of all we do and what we are. It is the foundation upon which we can build a firm foundation for our life. It is a reminder that what we have is from You and our future is dependent upon You.