LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD

Passage: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Key verse: 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
1. That you may increase greatly (1-3) The Lord gave the people of Israel his commands before they entered the land of promise. He did this out of his great love for them. He wanted everything to go well for them. He wanted them to have the joy of life. He wanted to pour out his bountiful love and provision for them, and for them to increase greatly. His best love is the gift of his word. Apart from our God and his love, we can't enjoy his abundant provision, even in a land flowing with milk and honey. 2. With all your heart (4-9) The Lord is one. There is only one God, the Lord, who created his people and called them by his name. He gave the Law to his people so that they may know his love. And he commanded his people to love him with everything they had. The practice of obedience is how we practice love for God. It is a matter of heart. When God's word is in our hearts, we can begin to learn his nature and character. When his word is the guide of our entire life, he becomes our one desire, and we have life, in perfect unity with him.

Prayer: Lord, how easily I stray from seeking you. Heal my heart so that I may practice love with everything I have, until you are all I desire.

One Word: Love the Lord your God