Life Giving Vision.
But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” - Matthew 22:34-40 ESV
If you could have walked with Jesus in the time of His earthly mission two thousand years ago, and you were given the opportunity to ask Him one question, what would that question have been? Isn’t it sad that such “religious” people as the Pharisees wasted that opportunity with a question designed to trick Jesus. They were trying to use the Scriptures against Jesus. How crazy is that? They thought they could get Jesus, God in the flesh, the living Word of God, to contradict the written Word of God! As God always does though, He uses their evil intent for good, and as a result we have the benefit of Jesus’ answer, written and preserved for us. This question and it’s answer is profound, because as Jesus says, it sums up all of Scripture (He refers to it as the Law and the Prophets).
What is the meaning of life? What is God’s purpose for me? What is the purpose of the Church? Why do we exist? Why does the Church exist? All These questions are answered in the most fundamental way, by Jesus’ Words. Love God with everything we are and everything we have, and then, love and treat others as we would like them to love and treat us. So simple isn’t it? By making this our life’s ambition, we ensure that we fulfil the purpose for which God designed us. In doing this, our lives will never be wasted.
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. - 1 John 5:2-3 ESV
The next question is: how do we do this? That question can only be answered by first honouring (respecting the authority and perfection) of God’s Word, and then obeying it.
We may not have walked with Jesus in the flesh, but we do have His Word, and we have His promised Holy Spirit to teach, encourage and correct us according to His Word. We can not waste the opportunities we’re given to read, learn, memorise and be changed by His Word, the Holy Scriptures.
Prayer.
Our Father, Who is in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth - as it is in Heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us Father, not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Because Yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever.
Oh Lord, please help us to hear Your Word as we read it today, please explain it to us, and please teach us how to love You, with all our heart, soul, mind and strength today. Please teach us to love others, and help us to love others, as we would have them love us. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Worship.
Obedience Daniel S. Warner, pub. 1888
By Thy blessed word obeying, Lord, we prove our love sincere;
For we hear Thee gently saying, “Love will do as well as hear.”
Dear Redeemer, we would hallow All Thy word so firm and true;
In Thy footsteps meekly follow, Thy commands we love to do.
Feigned hearts Thy name professing, Thy commandments cast aside;
But we feel Thy great salvation, And in all Thy truth abide.
Every word Thy mouth hath spoken Is essential to our life;
All Thy mandates love betoken, To oppose them is but strife.
In Thy wisdom, Lord, confiding, We will follow in Thy way;
With Thy love in us abiding, ’Tis delightful to obey.
Each commandment Thou hast given Is a waymark on the road;
Leading up from earth to heaven, To the blessed throne of God.
Service.
Today’s act of service is a little different, it’s something to think about deeply. Try to think of all your favourite worship songs, and then see how many of them are centred around obeying God’s perfect Word. If the greatest purpose for which we exist is to love God, and the greatest way to love Him is to trust and obey Him, then why are more popular songs not focused on obedience?
Let us pray for God to give us a new vision of obedience and a renewed love for obeying His Word - not in a legalistic pharisee-like way, but based on trust and gratitude to our loving merciful Father.