LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD

Passage: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Key verse: 4-5

NIV

Love the Lord Your God

6 These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear(A) the Lord your God as long as you live(B) by keeping all his decrees and commands(C) that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.(D) 3 Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey(E) so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly(F) in a land flowing with milk and honey,(G) just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised(H) you.

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a](I) 5 Love(J) the Lord your God with all your heart(K) and with all your soul and with all your strength.(L) 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.(M) 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.(N) 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.(O) 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.(P)

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Footnotes
  1. Deuteronomy 6:4 Or The Lord our God is one Lord; or The Lord is our God, the Lord is one; or The Lord is our God, the Lord alone
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Greatest Commandment

6 “Now this is (A)the commandment—the statutes and the rules[a]—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, 2 that (B)you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and (C)that your days may be long. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, (D)as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

4 “Hear, O Israel: (E)The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[b] 5 You (F)shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And (G)these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 (H)You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 (I)You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 (J)You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

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Footnotes
  1. Deuteronomy 6:1 Or just decrees; also verse 20
  2. Deuteronomy 6:4 Or The Lord our God is one Lord; or The Lord is our God, the Lord is one; or The Lord is our God, the Lord alone
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

God has proven his love so tangibly and clearly through his promises. He promised that they would increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey (3). God loves us with all his heart, even giving his only Son to save the world (Jn 3:16). How are we to love God? Twice we are commanded to “hear” (3, 4), which involves understanding and obeying God’s commands. We are also told to fear the LORD (3). This fear is not terror but flows from love. Those who love Jesus obey him (Jn 14:15); perfect love drives out fear (1Jn 4:18). The point of observing God’s commands is to live in a love relationship with God. In response to God’s love, we love God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength.

Loving God in this way is very practical. Abraham Kuyper (1837-192

, Dutch theologian) wrote: “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry; ‘Mine!’” Is this shown in what our hearts meditate on and plan? Are we impressing this on our children? Does the love of God flavor our conversations at home and abroad? Does it govern our hands, heads, and gates? Let’s love the LORD our God.

Prayer: Father, thank you for loving me with all your heart. Help me hear your words, fear you, and love you practically with all my heart, soul, and strength.

One Word: Love God with all your heart