The first commandment that God gave Moses simply said, "You shall have no other Gods before me." The first four commandments that were given address our relationship with God and the remaining six tell us how to live with our fellow humans here on earth.
I've thought often what a simple commandment that is. Have no other Gods before me. Simple and short and sweet but probably the one that is the most difficult for us to follow. We have a tendency to make gods of so many things............money, food, possessions, play, sports and sports figures, celebrities, even our work. God, however, impressed upon us, not once but twice, how important this commandment is.
In Deuteronomy 6:5, Moses tells the children of Israel:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."
In the 22nd chapter of Matthew, a Pharisee asks Jesus which is the most important commandment and He says:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."
He goes on to say that this is the first and the greatest, the first and foremost, of all the Commandments. So, the big question is.... how do we do what we're told to do, how do we keep God first and foremost in our lives? Moses gives the most practical instruction in how to accomplish this. He tells us to talk and think about God and His commandments all the time, "when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
The next question is how do we talk and think about God all the time? We can do that when we take the time to study His word. When we take the time to study we learn and the excitement of learning makes us want to know more and as we begin to know more we want to share that knowledge with others and thus the thoughts and the conversations begin. But first and foremost, we have to study. Try it. It's addictive. It's better than any movie, more delicious than any candy and more satisfying than closing the biggest deal and quickly we are able to recognize what should be and what is quickly becoming first and foremost in our life.
Precious Lord, Jehovah Rapha,
Thank You for Your word, the Holy Bible. We know that there have been many translations and over hundreds of years human hands have touched and revised it but through it all, the message has remained the same. That we are to love You with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength and with all our mind. And we do.
We thank You for the promises You made. We know that You are the same yesterday, today and forever and that we can stand on those promises. We know that no matter what comes to pass, that You are there with us.
Lord, we thank You for the healing that is taking place today in Your children, Lisa, Tony, Ruth, Frank, Bryce, Sadie, Simon and so many more who are fighting the enemy, cancer. Give them the strength, fortitude, and knowledge of Your word to use in that battle.
We love You, Lord. We give you all the praise, honor, and glory.
These things we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the one true Messiah who came to save us and will assuredly come again.
Amen
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