I remember growing up having to memorise the Ten Commandments. It appeared a bit odd then, to hear Jesus expressing the two greatest commandments apparently not being one of the Ten.
It appeared odd until someone showed me that the whole of the Law rested on these two commandments. All the Law. Indeed the Ten themselves were explicitly based on these two. There is, however, an order. The two cannot be separated – Jesus Himself says the second is like the first. Yet there is a first one mentioned from each everything else flows.
If there was one thing I would want my daughters to have impressed on the core of their beings is appreciating that everything flows from loving God. That love for God is not a blind love or an onerous chore. It’s a love for God who delivers, who saves, who creates, who sustains, who loves, who protects, who gives and who is the author of life.
When the command is first heard by the people, these are those who have lived in the wilderness but away from slavery. On the brink of entering the promised land, their leader is letting them hear again who gave the promise and how they can fulfil it. The first command – the first premise on which they can enjoy the land is to love the Lord. The one who delivered them and the one who will bring them safely through.
It’s not that different for those who look to follow Jesus today. It’s all got to be established by love. The response to give in the light of all that’s been done for us is to love. It’s not unreasonable – it’s perfectly reasonable. For all God has done for us.
Yet this command doesn’t end with the call to just love – there is more to it than that …
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 