AFFECTION MAKES FOR EFFECTIVENESS

AFFECTION MAKES FOR EFFECTIVENESS

Sunday, October 22, 2017

   Deuteronomy 6:5-9 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. [Jn.14:15; 1Jn.5:2-3]

   Matthew 22:23-40 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. And last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine. But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

  As God’s John 1:12 children we are to love the Lord above all others. “love the Lord” is in 17 verses, 14 in OT, 3 in NT, beginning with Deuteronomy 6:5 and lastly recorded from the lips of Jesus in Luke 10:27.   

(Deut.6:5; 11:1, 13, 22; 13:3; 19:9; 30:6, 16, 20: Jos.23:11; Ps.31:23; 97:10; 116:1; Mt.22:37; Mk.12:30; Lk.10:27)

  We may tend to think this commandment and request is wholly because of God’s jealousy. (Ex.20:5; 34:14; Deut.4:24; 5:9; 6:15; Jos.24:19; Joel 2:18; Nah.1:2; Zec.1:14; 8:2; Jam.4:4-5) But it is not. It is beneficial to those that love Him.

  Only as we live in deep affection for God can we live a life pleasing Him:

·         Let us understand and accept that in serving the Lord we indeed do take His burden upon us, but it is not a grievous burden. (Mt.11:29; Jam.4:5)

·         Agreeably taking Jesus’ yoke of loving the Father and others we leave our burdensome yoke of self by the wayside, and gain rest. (Heb.4:3; 11:5-6; Jam.4:5) We need to stop thinking escaping from the rigors of life is true rest. It is not. God’s rest is to be daily currently realized and practiced where we stand and walk.

·         Loving the Lord as He commands and leads we live by and thereby in His present and eternal portion. (Deut.30:6, 16; Ps.31:23; Heb.11:6)

  Knowing this, where does it leave us this day concerning loving God and living effectively? 

EBB4