Deuteronomy 10
Fear the LORD, walk in his ways, to love him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul... (vs 12) Ring a bell? The first and greatest commandment according to Jesus. And if you are reading chapter 10 of Deuteronomy you will also see the second greatest commandment, according to Jesus. "You shall also love the stranger; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." (vs 19 NRSV)
Moses is recounting the time that he received the ten commandments for the second time. We are reminded that the law is (among other things) about love: loving God and loving others. I wish that Les, one of God's servants here at Zion, were writing this. He so eloquently tells how it is that we can love our neighbor or the stranger. In a nutshell: When we realize God's great love for us, we love Him in return. We place the LORD first in our lives and then we are more fully empowered to more fully love our neighbor, the stranger, even our enemy. The ten "words" of the law are placed in a very specific order. The first table (3 or 4 commandments depending on how you divide them) are about fearing, loving, honoring God. The second table is about how we are to show love for our neighbors. When we place God in our lives first, then loving the rest is much easier, because God is with us, loving them through us. Sure, our sinful natures will still try to override the power of God, causing us a bit of shakiness in the area of love. But, we will know a love for our neighbors that cannot exist without the love of God.
Love the LORD, your God, there is nothing more pleasant than being in relationship with Him and as you walk with Him in His way, you will love your neighbor as yourself. That's about it.
May the love of God overwhelm and empower you to love your neighbor, the stranger, your enemy, as yourself this day.
Fear the LORD, walk in his ways, to love him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul... (vs 12) Ring a bell? The first and greatest commandment according to Jesus. And if you are reading chapter 10 of Deuteronomy you will also see the second greatest commandment, according to Jesus. "You shall also love the stranger; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." (vs 19 NRSV)
Moses is recounting the time that he received the ten commandments for the second time. We are reminded that the law is (among other things) about love: loving God and loving others. I wish that Les, one of God's servants here at Zion, were writing this. He so eloquently tells how it is that we can love our neighbor or the stranger. In a nutshell: When we realize God's great love for us, we love Him in return. We place the LORD first in our lives and then we are more fully empowered to more fully love our neighbor, the stranger, even our enemy. The ten "words" of the law are placed in a very specific order. The first table (3 or 4 commandments depending on how you divide them) are about fearing, loving, honoring God. The second table is about how we are to show love for our neighbors. When we place God in our lives first, then loving the rest is much easier, because God is with us, loving them through us. Sure, our sinful natures will still try to override the power of God, causing us a bit of shakiness in the area of love. But, we will know a love for our neighbors that cannot exist without the love of God.
Love the LORD, your God, there is nothing more pleasant than being in relationship with Him and as you walk with Him in His way, you will love your neighbor as yourself. That's about it.
May the love of God overwhelm and empower you to love your neighbor, the stranger, your enemy, as yourself this day.
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