37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Mathew 22:36-40)
You shall have no other gods before me. Deut. 5:7
(James J. Tissot- Pharisees ask Christ about Greatest Command)Thoughts: When the Old Testament says to not have any other God before God, it primarily means that no one should be before God in place. God deserves first place in our lives and first place in our hearts and love. Luther used to say, "Love God and do what you will." There is a sense that if we love God- putting no one else ahead of Him in our hearts- then we will seek and do His will in other things. But without love for God false motives and false loves consume us. The first commandment is a command to elevate God not just in our practice, or in our heads, but primarily in our hearts.
In our day, many have lost their true Father. But when we have love for our true heavenly Father first in our hearts then love for all earthly relationships are in the right perspective. On this Father's Day- let us return to love for our true Father.
Prayer: Help me Lord, to grow in love for you. Let me not let other loves crowd out my love for you.
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