February8, 2018 KELUARGA ALLAH DAILY DEVOTIONAL DAY4# The First And Greatest Commandment
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THE SOUL Matthew 22:34-40
TODAY'S RHEMA Matthew 22:37-39 "Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself.""
Loving God with all our hearts is the first and greatestcommandment and loving our neighbor is the second commandment afterthe previous commandment. That was the answer of the Lord Jesus towards a Pharisee who was testing Jesus' understanding of the Torah. Through His answer, Jesus was actually teaching all of us about the essence of the whole of the Torah's commandment and the books of the prophets. LOVE is actually the center of the words in the gospel, it is also the essence and purpose of Jesus cominginto the world. Because only by loving can we truly overcome.
But, love here is not just in mere words. Specifically, Jesus emphasized that to love God is the first and greatestcommandment. As God's creation, it is our obligation to exalt Him above all else. But, this is not only our obligation as His people, Jesus knew exactly, that we alsoneed to love God. When we get close to God, He will also spread His love in our hearts.
With a heart that is full of God's love, even though there are many things going on in our lives that are not in harmony with our heart's desires, we can always subject and exchange our desiresfor God's desires. We will also wholeheartedly give the best to our neighbors, saving the lost at any cost. Truth is, without God's love that overflows in our hearts, we will struggle to love others. That is why, we need to remember, that God is the main and thefirst purpose, more than any other thing. Do not try to do it in reverse order, by loving neighbors or ourselves more than the Lord.
REFLECTION You have to understand that LOVING GOD comes FIRST, and LOVING YOUR NEIGHBORS comes AFTER.
APPLICATIONS 1. Has loving God become first and greatestin your life? Why? 2. Why do you have to love the Lord in place of any other thing? 3. How can you love the Lord more than to the people that you really love and more than to yourself? TODAY'S PRAYER "Lord Jesus, Ireally love You, with all of my heart, all of my souls and all of my mind. You have been so good, and Your love is so great towards me. Teachme oh God to reciprocate Your love, so I can always please You. Thank You, Father. In thename of Lord Jesus,I pray. Amen."
