The Greatest Commandment
‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 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.’ Deuteronomy 6:4-7
This piece of Scripture starts with whole hearted commitment to loving Jesus, with all of yourself, every thought and action. And then as we enter the ‘land’ and its benefits it warns us not to forget God. Why?
Because the pull of the ‘land’ is strong. As we enter into the comforts of life and the pull of the world, we can easily fall asleep spiritually and forget our first love.
The other day we went to a theme park for our daughter’s birthday. At the end of the day, after walking past hundreds of people and standing in queues, my husband remarked, ‘wow, have you realised we haven’t seen anyone wearing a mask?!’
Something uncomfortable we have become accustomed to wearing, is no longer a legal requirement in a lot of settings and it’s almost easy, natural, to go back to a time before and forget the uncomfortable.
There is, of course, a great joy as we move forward. But it is so important that we don’t forget.
As we enter into the world: our jobs, families, communities, schools, friendships, everyday conversations... He asks us not to forget our first love. As the pull of the comfortable and the world magnetises our thoughts and actions, let’s lean into the pull of intimacy with our Creator instead. Let’s not forget our Lord, our first love. In the midst of the world, let us stay awake.
- Abi Lloydbottom
Inward prayer: Lord, help me to always love you first. Forgive me for the times I have forgotten you.
Outward prayer: Awaken me to those around me who need to hear about you. Lead me out of my comfort zone to tell the world about you.
This piece of Scripture starts with whole hearted commitment to loving Jesus, with all of yourself, every thought and action. And then as we enter the ‘land’ and its benefits it warns us not to forget God. Why?
Because the pull of the ‘land’ is strong. As we enter into the comforts of life and the pull of the world, we can easily fall asleep spiritually and forget our first love.
The other day we went to a theme park for our daughter’s birthday. At the end of the day, after walking past hundreds of people and standing in queues, my husband remarked, ‘wow, have you realised we haven’t seen anyone wearing a mask?!’
Something uncomfortable we have become accustomed to wearing, is no longer a legal requirement in a lot of settings and it’s almost easy, natural, to go back to a time before and forget the uncomfortable.
There is, of course, a great joy as we move forward. But it is so important that we don’t forget.
As we enter into the world: our jobs, families, communities, schools, friendships, everyday conversations... He asks us not to forget our first love. As the pull of the comfortable and the world magnetises our thoughts and actions, let’s lean into the pull of intimacy with our Creator instead. Let’s not forget our Lord, our first love. In the midst of the world, let us stay awake.
- Abi Lloydbottom
Inward prayer: Lord, help me to always love you first. Forgive me for the times I have forgotten you.
Outward prayer: Awaken me to those around me who need to hear about you. Lead me out of my comfort zone to tell the world about you.
1 Comment
Lord please teach me to love you…Love for God is spelt O-B-E-D-I-E-N-C-E because Jesus said,if you love me,you will obey my commands.
Thanks for the article Abi.