Today’s Reading, Deuteronomy 5-7
Focal Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:5 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
Love is a word that gets overly used in our society. You will hear the following statements “I love pizza.” , “I love football.”, “I love cold weather.” No matter how you hear the word used, it is mostly used in a way to show exaggeration not devotion. After all, love can be defined as complete devotion and passion. It is the idea that nothing can deter you or keep you from being completely committed.
In today’s reading we see this truth explained. It is told to Moses that the greatest commandment is to love the lord your God with all of your heart,mind, soul and all of your strength. This is completely opposite in how the word is used today in our culture. To many people claim to love the Lord but do not do so with everything they have. Their love for God is no different than their love for food or a sport. It is not distinguishable from anything else.
So how do you love the Lord? Are you completely devoted to him in your life? I am not talking about a casual devotion but an obsession for him and his glory. I believe that most people want a casual relationship with God. They like the thought of him being available but never want to commit completely. Church attendance doesn’t happen when life is difficult or tragedy strikes. Witnessing happens more with your favorite sports team than with the Lord. You would rather date the Lord than be in a committed relationship.
So how can this change? How can we go from being casual with the Lord, to being all in? I believe this can only happen in a few ways.
- A decision to love him more than anything or anyone must be made.
- A realization that he is God and he is worthy of worship.
- A commitment to chose him above everything else in our lives.
- A belief that he is coming again and will judge the living and the dead.
This is just a short list but one that can get you headed in the right direction. It is time for professing believers to be passionate about the Lord. To love him more than anything else in our lives. To have a devotion that spurs others to love God the same way. Let us be an example to everyone we come in contact with in our lives.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Deuteronomy 8-10
