Are You Keeping The Greatest Commandment?
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles
On a certain occasion a scribe asked Jesus, “Which is the first commandment of all?” — or which is the most important commandment? “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:29-30 KJV).
The most important attribute that man can possess is that he be A Lover Of God. Jesus said that the love of God must be first and most important in our lives. We are to love God “with all (our) heart.” This means that we are to love God with all of our feelings, desires, emotions, affections, and longings. We are to love God “with all (our) soul,” that is to say, we are to love God with all our life, with our very being. We are to love God “with all (our) mind” — which involves our intellect. And we are to love God “with all (our) strength.” We must love God with every ounce of our energy and with great intensity and vigor. Love is the fundamental commandment underlying the whole of God’s law. It involves our total being and loyalty.
With regard to our loving god, we need to consider a very significant passage of holy writ. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15 KJV).
And:
“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:10-14 KJV).
Jesus informs us of an essential attitude with reference to loving God — We Must Be Willing To Obey Him! John said, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and His commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3 KJV).
There are so many people in our world, and even in the church, who claim to love God but their actions speak differently — their actions declare just the opposite. When we forsake the assembly of the saints, do we show love for God? When we fail to give our means generously, are we showing love for God? When we fail to read and study the words of God on a daily basis (Psalm 1:2; Acts 17:11), is this showing that we love God? When we fail to believe and stand for the truth, do we show love for God? When we fail to live as the Bible instructs us, are we showing our love for God? The answer to all of these questions is NO!
If we really love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, then we will keep the Almighty’s commandments.
Obedience is the key to loving God! Do you really love God?
Remember, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21 KJV).
—Tommy Moore, from the Montana Street bulletin