Deuteronomy

"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 6:5-7

These words were given by Moses, in a time when his people were soon to be led into the promised land. He would not be going with them, so he wanted to be sure they followed everything he had taught them: The laws and commands of God. But the one command he wanted them to remember, to impress upon their hearts, that would help them, was to love God with every part of themselves. And not only to remember it for their own sake, but to share this love of God with their children, who would share it with children of their own. 

You see, loving the Lord when things are going right is easy. But if our love is not rooted in our hearts, that love can turn to bitterness toward God when times get tough. God knew how hard it would be for His people to keep the commands He had in place without Moses to remind them. So Moses made sure they knew how important it was for them to love God with everything they have: heart, soul, and strength.

 

Over a thousand years later, Jesus is asked: Of every commandment, what is the most important? His answer? "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30) Sound familiar? In loving God with everything we have, we will have His strength to get us through. We will hear His gentle whisper in our souls guiding us. Our heart will align with His. And I can't think of anything better than my heart beating alongside the heart of the One who loves me so much.

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8