Amazing, we are half way through 2017. I give thanks to God, for the blessing of life, and provision for all that is necessary. Most importantly, I give thanks for the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ and my salvation that comes through His total atoning sacrifice, for everyone who has ever lived. It is such a sad thing, that we often stray from loving Jesus absolutely, when He loves each person, no matter what they have done and who they are.
Moses was given much to say from God, to the wayward Israelite people, and to all people who have lived since. Deuteronomy 6:4 – 6 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” So important were these instructions, that Jesus repeated Verses 4 and 5, when asked, which was first commandment; and added the words”……This is the first commandment.” Mark 12: 30, followed by a further commandment, Verse 31 “And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.” Because God is love, and the source of all love, within us, nothing can be more important that loving Him, with all my being, and then passing that love on to every family member, others that come into my life, or across my pathway.
When we really love someone, our heart is affected, and we know the feelings we have for them is carried in our heart; as something very precious. And so it is to be for us, with God, Deuteronomy 6: 6, 7”And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” The love Moses is teaching the Israelite’s about, is not a ‘puppy love’, a half-hearted affair, or tired, almost forgotten love, this is as fresh and whole hearted as when first experienced. Kept alive through reading the scriptures and interacting with God; as well as talking with others about the deep love God has for each person and I/you have for Him.
1 John 2: 1, 2 “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” There is no point deluding ourselves, we cannot have a living, daily love experience with God, and keep engaging in known premeditated sins; including rebellion against how God has told us to live. Such behaviour does not work with human relationships, and cannot with our Omniscient, Heavenly Father. It is good that the scriptures tell us we can know God, Verses 3, 4 “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in Him.”
Dear Father, thank You for loving me, and leading me further through Jesus, in knowing you more and more, each day that I dedicate my life to walk obediently in Your statutes.