Traveling through the Philippines, we were able to meet with so many wonderful people. It was truly the trip of a lifetime. During our time there, we preached at many churches, taught in schools, challenged teens in youth meetings, and charged scores of pastors in multiple pastors’ meetings. Although we tried our best to encourage the people there, I believe that they were much more a blessing and inspiration to us than we were to them. I desired to be a help to this people who had a different culture, different language, and different troubles. Fervently, I asked God to direct my thoughts and show me something from His Word that might be a help. Immediately, I was drawn to Matthew 22:37-38. “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.”
The entirety of Scripture transcends culture and differences, but this passage is so simplistic in its message. A Christian does not need to attend seminary or obtain a theology degree to understand what Jesus states as the first and great commandment. Often, Christians complicate what God intended to be simple.
In this passage, the Pharisees and Sadducees are interrogating Jesus in order to find fault in His answers, to degrade the supernatural wisdom which He possessed. Yet Jesus answers directly, simply, and perfectly. No matter the person, the geographical location, the social status, or the culture, mankind’s first commandment is to “love the Lord thy God.” There are many “firsts” in life— first-class, first responders, first place, etc. Each of those are the ultimate articles in their category. Jesus says above all other commandments, above all the other law, above all the other things in life that mankind can love, “love the Lord thy God” first.
What occurs when Christians love God first is that all of the other commandments and all the other principles proceed afterwards. When God is loved first, dress standards, good music, and church attendance aren’t an issue. When God is loved first, tithing is made easy. When God is loved first, a relationship with Him is a joy, not a drudgery. When God is loved first, the life of the Christian is made sweet, enjoyable, and complete. Yet people place an emphasis on the effects of loving God first, rather than actually loving God first.
I don’t know what struggles you face, the place you live, or your family history. What I do know is that the first and great commandment for all of us is to “love the Lord thy God” first.
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Luke Flood, Bus Director
Luke Flood serves on staff as the bus director and is responsible for seeing hundreds of people in church on a weekly basis. He is a true product of North Valley Baptist Church. Having grown up in a wonderful Christian family, he attended North Valley Baptist Schools from kindergarten through twelfth grade. After graduation, he attended Golden State Baptist College where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
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