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The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is;  

fear God and keep His commandments,

because this applies to every person.

~ Ecclesiastes 12:12

 

Good morning dear sister!

What a verse to wake up to! When I read it this morning it made me wonder why the Lord directed my gaze to this particular scripture. Perhaps He will give us understanding as we ponder it together. Actually, let’s follow James’ example when he says “if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given him.” (or her!) James 1:5

So Father, we do ask for wisdom to be able to understand the word you have for us today. May our ears be open to your voice and our hearts be willing to obey!

Ooh, there’s that word “obey”. I daresay that even the most saintly among us cringe a little bit at that word. But, if we’re going to revere God and keep his commandments, that will involve obedience to His word! 

Keeping God’s commandments is the best way to show reverence, respect and love to our Creator who loves us so. The first step in keeping God’s commandments is to know what He commands us to do! Thank God that we live in the light and salvation of Christ, so we need only to be aware of two commandments, not the hundreds of commandments and laws that the Jews are bound to.

Do you remember the two commandments that Jesus taught?  ( I know that you do, but I’ll write them out anyway) Jesus was talking to a crowd, mostly religious leaders, when a slick talking lawyer thought he might test Him by asking Him what commandment is the greatest in the Law. Remember, they had hundreds of laws! 

Jesus replied, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind!’ This is the greatest and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Upon these two commandments hang the whole law and prophets.” (Mt 22:37-40) 

Wow! Love! It seems so simple, so basic! Everyone loves to love and wants to be loved! Love makes us happy, makes us feel good and seems so easy….. until it doesn't. What kind of love God is requiring of us?

Loving Him with ALL our heart, ALL our soul and ALL our mind sounds like a pretty tall order! To fulfill that greatest and foremost commandment means making our desires, our needs, our plans secondary to His. It means putting our perspectives, our judgments, our knowledge in the backseat instead of the driver’s seat.

And to love my neighbor as myself? It’s easy to love a pleasant, reasonable & generous  person! What if they’re not reasonable or pleasant or generous? What if they have annoying habits or don’t treat you especially well? That’s where the proverbial rubber hits the road! (since I’m using car analogies)

Jesus also said, “Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down her life for her friends.” (Jn 15:13) This verse is talking about the greatest love being shown by the greatest, ultimate sacrifice; literally one’s life. But it also makes me think of the countless times a parent will put aside their priorities or desires for the sake of a child, or a wife for her husband, or a friend for a friend. Even for a stranger.

Think of the times we minister to others in Jesus’ name! It may not always feel so loving to go out of our way to help someone, encourage someone or just be present for someone. Feeding someone’s body, soul or spirit might not have the fireworks of what we call love in our culture, but this is how God defines love!

This is love that comes from the Father, that we can return back to Him. This is the rhythm of the Christian’s life; we receive from God, we share what He has so freely given us, it comes back to Him as love, sanctified by the blood of Jesus, Who did indeed demonstrate the greatest of love for us.

If we love, as Jesus loved, we can be assured that we are walking in obedience to God’s commandments to love Himself and to love others. We cannot do it in our own strength or power though, so let’s ask for our Abba’s help, so that we may be called children of God!

Dear heavenly Father, You know the thoughts and intents of our hearts that were stirred  at the reading and pondering of these words. Create in us even more of a heart to follow after You and to see those we encounter with your eyes and your heart, so that, by your grace, we may minister to them in the power of your love! Be glorified in our lives, in Jesus’ name!           

With love, your sister, Celeste