The Most Important Thing
When Jesus was asked by the religious leaders what the most important command was, He quoted Deuteronomy 6:5. This verse contains one of the most important commands in all of Scripture.
The starting point for all of our lives is wrapped up in loving God. We were created to love God and have a relationship with Him. This relationship means that we were also made to be loved by God as well.
Amidst everything that you have to do in life, the most important thing is that you love God with everything that you are. If we become successful in life but do not love God, we’ve missed the most important thing.
God instructed the Israelites in Deuteronomy to constantly keep this command in their hearts and minds. They made physical reminders to help them remember to love God in everything they did. They taught this command to their children as the foundation of all other commands in Scripture.
Take some time to consider your life as well. Is loving God the primary motivation? Spend some time thinking about how good and merciful God has been in your life. Maybe create a physical reminder that you will see everyday to help focus your thoughts and heart on loving God.
Remember that God loves you more than you could ever imagine. The best motivation to love God is to constantly remember how much He loves us first.
Luke 18
“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed ...
Want a Clean Heart?
King David made some great decisions, but he also made some terrible ones...
During his reign, David chose to abuse his power by taking the wife of one of his military leaders, and then arranging for him to die in battle. For someone who was considered “a man after God’s own heart,” David really messed up.
In 2 Samuel 12:13 we see David confess his sin against the Lord. And in Psalm 51, we see his prayer to be made new:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10 ESV
David failed, but God redeems. God restores. David still had to face the consequences of his decisions, but in that journey, God met him there.
If you want to be made new by God but believe that your past is too messed up, you can follow the path David showed us: confess, repent, and ask God to make you new. You can even use David’s exact words as you pray... "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit ...