At the end of Moses' life, as he was preparing to die, he repeated to Israel their history and God's commands to them, as he had over and over. The sad thing is that Moses knew that they would not obey the commandments and God warned him of that very thing. After dedicating forty years of his life to them, that must have been heartbreaking. But they could not obey God because there was one thing missing.
The loving God "with all" part was missing. Moses first gave this command to the people in Deuteronomy 6:5. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Over a thousand years later, Jesus reiterated this command. He told parables about people who listened but did not obey his teaching, people who built their lives on sand and were ruined. He told of seed falling among weeds that were choked out. He grieved as the rich man walked away not willing to give up his wealth and follow. Just like the Israelites in the wilderness, who had all listened over and over but failed, there was one thing missing.
"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." Matthew 22:37-38
Loving God first and best. Loving God most. God at the center.
"First, God. God is the subject of life. God is foundational for living. If we don't have a sense of the primacy of God, we will never get it right, get life right, get our lives right. Not God at the margins, nor God as an option; not God on the weekends. God at the center and circumference. God first and last; God, God, God." -- Eugene Peterson
Unless we love God first and most "... we will never get it right." It will be impossible to obey his commandments. The ideas of loving God and obeying God are coupled in both the old and new covenants.
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? Deuteronomy 10:12-13
Be careful to obey all these commands I am giving you. Show love to the Lord your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him. Deuteronomy 11:22 (NLT)
If you love me, obey my commandments. John 14:15 (NLT)
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. 1 John 5: 3 (ESV)
So, loving God is shown through obeying God, but it is impossible to obey God if you don't love God first and best. That is the only difference between those who hear the word and obey and those who hear the word and don't. But I think it is impossible in ourselves. Our own histories, indeed, the history of the world, prove that.
I think, in the end, we cannot do any of this without just throwing ourselves at His feet and totally surrendering, hiding ourselves in Christ – the only one who has ever been able to love God and to obey the commandments perfectly with all.
We need to let him pry our hearts and hands off the "stuff" of this world. Give up trying to do life ourselves, in our own strength, give up caring so much what people think of us, trying to be acceptable, give up trying to prove how wonderful we are. But instead, focus on how wonderful he is, how great his love for us. How he cares for us, is full to overflowing with every good thing, all goodness, life and light. How he is always there with us gently guiding and instructing, catching us when we fall.
Without that, there is no reason to obey, no reason to go on with this fight, endure the struggle. Only then will our hearts be opened to receive the grace and mercy and strength and love - His very own love - that only He can supply. Only then will our lives be built upon the Rock.
I may speak in the tongues of men, even angels; but if I lack Love, I have become merely blaring brass or a cymbal clanging. I may have the gift of prophecy, I may fathom all mysteries, know all things, have all faith—enough to move mountains; but if I lack Love, I am nothing. I may give away everything that I own, I may even hand over my body to be burned; but if I lack Love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
God wants the whole person and He will not rest till He gets us in entirety. No part of the man will do. -- A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God
You shall love the Lord your God with all ...
Photo by Judy Baxter, https://flic.kr/p/qQjEB
Blog copyright Sheila Bair 2024
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