Emphasis on the First Commandment
Aug0
There are two commandments that stand out within the entire Bible and are particularly emphasized by Jesus in the New Testament. The first commandment is to love God and the second is to love other people. The first is first and the second is second–they aren’t equal. If we forget to love God, it really doesn’t matter how much we love people (1 Cor 13). The first commandment is a requirement for the second, and it is greater (Mat 22:37-38).
I’ve mentioned these commandments before, but it’s very important to recognize the difference between them. They wouldn’t be highlighted separately if they were the same; thus, we do not love God BY loving other people, we love God THEN we love other people. This is not a subtle difference.
So how do we love God? Scripture says we love God by keeping His commandments–we completely submit ourselves to God in obedience of whatever He has for us (John 15:1-11).
This is why loving God has to happen before the loving of people: God has a specific design for how we should individually love those in our spheres of influence. We aren’t called to random acts of kindness; we’re called to specific works which He prepared beforehand for us to do (Eph 2:10)!
If we neglect to focus on a relationship with the Lord foremost (on truly and wholeheartedly loving Him), then instead of being led by His voice to pour out His love, we become recklessly attempting to earn or prove our salvation to God, ourselves and the world. We may help people to feel good in the now, but aren’t able to offer them insight toward a stable relationship with the Lord because we don’t have it for ourselves; what is Christianity unless Christians can offer both? This ‘being good’ wears us out, makes us feel constantly inadequate or in competition with others, and most importantly, it doesn’t work–God knows our heart.
The ‘goodness’ has to come from the inside out. As we spend time with Him, we know Him and love Him. He gives us a heart to love Him–more and more as we seek Him–because He knows how small we are. And as we completely submit to Him in love, we can’t help but be stirred in our spirits to help His other loves. It really does happen naturally. And it brings with it a confidence of being a true heir and son or daughter to the Most High God.
Holy Spirit Conference, ICLV
Jul0
Ben and I returned last night from six days in Las Vegas for the Holy Spirit Conference at the International Church of Las Vegas (ICLV). We had an excellent time. Hundreds of people received physical healing from the Lord.
Although there were many great messages, my favorite speaker was Heidi Baker. Her and her husband, Rolland, are missionaries in Mozambique and have experienced the supernatural side of God’s love and provision in amazing ways. They’ve seen food multiplied, deaf ears opened, the dead raised, the sick healed, and countless other miracles. But more impressively, Heidi carries the Holy Spirit so strongly that He is heard in her words and physically seen in her countenance.
As Heidi spoke, one theme keep coming up: how much do we want to know Him? How much do we want His presence?
“The hungry always get fed”, she said, “how hungry are we?” (Isaiah 55)
Camping in Yosemite
Jul0
I spent the last four days in Yosemite National Park camping with some friends from college. The views and weather were fabulous, and it was exciting to see all the tourists with their various languages and cultures (in fact, we made many new friends).
I had so much fun with the women, but also missed my husband by the time I returned. When I came back and told Ben I missed him, he said, “Sometimes you have to miss me to remember you love me, otherwise you might take me for granted.”
Sometimes we have to miss the one we love in order for that love to be stirred. I know there have been seasons in my relationship with the Lord where He’s seemed harder to reach, and yet it’s been in those moments that my heart’s cried out with deeper fervor to hear His voice and know Him more.
God will never ask us to do anything He hasn’t done first!
Jul0
The first commandment is to love the Lord your God with your whole heart, soul and mind. This is absolutely the MOST important thing. (Deut 6:4-5, Ex 20:1-3, Mark 12:28-30)
The second commandment, while not equal, is also important. We are to love our neighbors–to love EVERYONE with the love He’s shown us. This is the second most important thing, and is catalyzed by our love for the Lord. (Mat 22:36-49, Luke 10:25-37)
When Jesus commands us to love other people, it’s not arbitrary, it’s because HE LOVES them. It’s Jesus giving us His heart for the people of the world–whether they will choose Him or not. We can love the lovable and unlovable only through Him. This is why the first commandment is first and the second is second! Without a firm love of the Lord, we really can’t make ourselves love–we can go through the actions (even with enthusiasm), but that’s all it is: working out the expression of love rather than actually loving from that deep place in our spirits. (1 John 4:7-21)
We connect to Jesus solely to experience Him, know Him, and love Him. And as we enter into that relationship, He begins to give us His heart. Our heart begins to break for the people we never thought we could like, let alone love; and it’s such a deep love that we are stirred to outwardly demonstrate that love through evangelism, giving, service, and many of the other spiritual gifts. We can’t help but love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).
Wake Up Sleeping Giant!
Jul0
Tonight I’m asking the Lord: How long will your people value the world over You? What will it take, O Lord, to wake up the Western church?
We who call ourselves Christians have forgotten to love the Lord with all of our hearts. We have a large bubble of “permissible but not beneficial” activities that we choose over our God. We pray for His blessing, and forget that He’s all we need–literally!
The problem is not that we aren’t thinking about others, it’s that we aren’t thinking about God. Connecting with God’s heart overflows into a love of others, but if it doesn’t start with a fear and knowledge of God Himself, it’s worthless.
This blog addresses the 'sticky' topics of Western Christianity in an attempt to shake, refocus, and unite the body of Christ, and to reveal the true gospel message to unbelievers.
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